Jack Grealish joins Manchester City as Aston Villa bank Premier League record $140 million

Manchester Metropolis have accomplished the $140 million signing of Jack Grealish from Aston Villa. The England worldwide has signed a six-year contract on the Etihad Stadium having agreed a transfer that makes him the costliest signing ever made by any Premier League membership.

Villa chief govt Christian Purslow confirmed that Metropolis had activated the discharge clause — set at £100 million when he signed his most up-to-date contract — to finish Grealish’s time together with his boyhood membership. The 25-year-old acknowledged it had not been a straightforward determination to go away however the lure of silverware in Pep Guardiola’s aspect satisfied him to make the transfer.

“It was clearly a troublesome few months as a result of I’ve been an Aston Villa fan for my complete life,” Grealish mentioned. “However after I spoke to the supervisor right here and also you see what kind of gamers they’ve right here, in the long run it was one thing I could not say no to. I’m completely delighted to be right here.”

He added: “There are clearly plenty of the reason why I made a decision to come back right here. The supervisor has been an enormous issue; enjoying beneath the perfect supervisor on the earth was one thing I could not actually flip down, (and) clearly the gamers that we’ve acquired right here.

“Competing for main trophies is one thing that I wished to do. It was one thing I could not flip down. Let’s hope it’s a profitable one.”

Grealish will put on the No. 10 shirt at Manchester Metropolis, beforehand worn by their document scorer Sergio Aguero. The £100 million payment eclipses the earlier document of £89.3 million, set in 2016 when Manchester United signed Paul Pogba from Juventus.

Since Villa’s promotion to the Premier League in 2019-20 Grealish has established himself as one of many English sport’s shining lights with a outstanding potential to beat opponents or draw fouls from them. Final season the playmaker scored six targets and offered 10 assists, incomes a spot in England’s Euro 2020 squad and the love of impartial followers throughout the league.

“Jack’s growth over the previous few seasons each for membership and nation has been plain for everyone to see,” mentioned Metropolis director of soccer Txiki Begiristain. “His pure expertise collectively together with his dedication to enhance as a participant, has seen him grow to be some of the thrilling attacking gamers in world soccer at present.

“I’m sure that the followers are going to like seeing him in our crew. Pep loves the best way he performs, and all of us really feel he is a perfect match for Manchester Metropolis. Our model and his model are an ideal match. I am excited to look at him over the approaching years.”

Villa have already made moves to rebuild their crew post-Grealish and have signed Emiliano Buendia, Leon Bailey and Danny Ings this summer season. In addition they maintain curiosity in Southampton midfielder James Ward Prowse and have been linked with a transfer for Todd Cantwell of Norwich Metropolis.

In a farewell letter to his fellow Villa supporters Grealish mentioned: “Each time I placed on the Villa shirt I performed with my coronary heart on my sleeve, being given the armband was each a privilege and an honour for me and my household and I’ve cherished each minute of it.

“I wish to thank the supervisor and my teammates, I will always remember every thing we achieved collectively… and to the followers who’ve supported me by means of every thing, I am unable to thanks sufficient. All my coaches and all of the individuals who work on the membership behind the scenes who’ve carried out a lot for me over time – thanks. I will all the time be a Villa fan – I like this membership with all my coronary heart and I hope you perceive my causes for looking for a brand new problem. The membership are in nice palms, the supervisor, the lads, the brand new signings coming in – it is an thrilling time to be a Villa fan.

“I will see you all once more quickly. Till subsequent time. UTV, Jack”