Official: Jack Grealish joins Manchester City in record deal

Posted Friday, August 06, 2021 by 101 GREAT GOALS

Jack Grealish joins the club

Manchester City have, this evening, announced the signing of Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for a reported one hundred million pounds.

The England international has signed a six-year deal in Manchester, and becomes the most expensive Englishman in history, overtaking Manchester United duo Harry Maguire (80 million pounds) and Jadon Sancho (73 million pounds).

Speaking to the Manchester City website, Grealish said:

"I am incredibly happy to have joined Manchester City, City are the best team in the country with a manager considered to be the best in the world – it's a dream come true to be part of this club.

"Over the past 10 seasons, they have won major trophies consistently. Pep coming here has taken them to the next level and the football this team plays is the most exciting in Europe. To play for Pep and learn from him is going to be special and it's something any top footballer would want.

"The facilities are amazing, and I honestly can't wait to get started, meet everyone and get playing."

Meanwhile, Director of Football Txiki Begiristain added:

"We are absolutely delighted to be able to welcome Jack Grealish to Manchester City. He is an incredible talent.

"Jack's development over the past few seasons both for club and country has been plain for everybody to see. His natural talent together with his commitment to improve as a player, has seen him become one of the most exciting attacking players in world football today.

"I am certain that the fans are going to love seeing him in our team. Pep loves the way he plays, and we all feel he is an ideal fit for Manchester City. Our style and his style are a perfect match. I'm excited to watch him over the coming years."

Aston Villa CEO addresses Villa fanbase

The CEO of Aston Villa, Christian Purslow, also spoke directly to the club's fans, who have lost their talisman and captain.

Purslow revealed that Grealish had a 100 million pound release clause in his contract, available to clubs in the Champions League (provided that Aston Villa were not in the Champions League).

He continued:

"We set the value at a level we hoped would not be met, but that would reflect his truly unique value to Aston Villa"

Purslow also revealed that several clubs expressed interest in signing Grealish for a sum below his release clause this summer, and that Aston Villa "simply refused to entertain those approaches".

On Grealish, the Villans' CEO claimed:

"It was a highly emotional moment when he finally told me his decision, leaving me in no doubt how hard it had been for him to decide to leave our club, which he joined when he was six years old"

Clearly, although no easy decision, Grealish has made what he feels is the best choice for his career.