The Premier League champions are set to make the most expensive transfer in English football history when Jack Grealish heads to Etihad in exchange for $140 million.
City submitted its offer to Aston Villa on Friday, with multiple media sources claiming the Midlands club will allow their captain to leave.
Grealish reported to training on Monday after a three-week holiday at the end of the Euro 2020 campaign. Villa offered the 25-year-old an improved contract at the end of last season, even though he’d just extended his deal in September. The midfielder’s mind now looks set on a transfer to City, where he would be able to compete for the most important trophies in football.
Once the move is completed, it will become a record transfer for English football, beating Paul Pogba’s acquisition by Manchester United in 2016. Back then, United paid $130 million for the French midfielder.
City and its coach, Pep Guardiola have been following Grealish closely for a long time, with rumors about a possible move growing more frequent in recent months. Grealish joined Villa’s youth system when he was six and became the first team captain in the spring of 2019. He featured in over 200 games at Villa, scoring 32 goals.
Grealish made his Premier League debut in the Aston Villa shirt in the 2013-2014 season, when he was also loaned out to Notts County in League One, the third tier in English football.
