Jack Grealish, once the poster boy of English football’s flair and creativity, finds himself at a crossroads as his time at Manchester City appears to be nearing its end. The 29-year-old winger, whose £100 million transfer from Aston Villa in 2021 made him the most expensive British player in history, has been tipped for a summer departure from the Etihad Stadium. With his minutes dwindling under Pep Guardiola and a glaring omission from City’s 2025 Club World Cup squad, Grealish is reportedly seeking a fresh start to reignite his career and secure his spot in England’s 2026 World Cup plans. Premier League rivals West Ham United and Everton have emerged as frontrunners, with both clubs registering interest in the dynamic attacker, though his £300,000-a-week wages present a formidable obstacle.
Grealish’s tenure at Manchester City has been a rollercoaster of triumphs and frustrations. A pivotal figure in the club’s 2022-23 treble-winning season, where he played the full 90 minutes in the Champions League final, Grealish was lauded by Guardiola as “impossible” to replace for his unique role in that historic campaign. “It was impossible to achieve what we achieved without Jack,” Guardiola once said, praising his work rate and personality. Yet, the 2024-25 season saw Grealish relegated to a squad player, starting only seven Premier League matches and recording three goals and five assists across 32 appearances. The arrival of new talents like Jeremy Doku, Savinho, and Rayan Cherki has intensified competition, leaving Grealish on the periphery. “He’s a unique player but he needs minutes and minutes and minutes, and he simply does not get them,” said England manager Thomas Tuchel, emphasizing the importance of regular play for Grealish’s international aspirations.
West Ham have made informal contact to explore a potential deal, viewing Grealish as a marquee replacement for Mohammed Kudus, who joined Tottenham for £55 million. Under Graham Potter, the Hammers are eager to add creativity to their attack, with Grealish’s versatility as a left-winger or false nine aligning with Potter’s tactical vision. “Jack might end up going somewhere like West Ham, bizarrely, because they have got the money and London as clout,” noted pundit Stan Collymore, highlighting the club’s financial capacity and appeal. However, Grealish’s hefty salary poses a significant challenge, with a permanent transfer valued at around £40 million deemed financially unfeasible for West Ham without a substantial pay cut or City subsidizing wages for a loan move.
Everton, meanwhile, are also in the race, favoring a loan deal to bring Grealish to their new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium. Sources indicate Grealish is “excited” by the prospect of joining the Toffees, particularly as staying in the North West aligns with his personal preferences. “It is believed Grealish is happy in the north west, which may give Everton some advantage if the player is only going to leave on loan,” a source revealed. David Moyes, Everton’s manager, sees Grealish as a transformative signing to elevate the club’s ambitions, but like West Ham, they would rely on City covering a portion of his wages. Grealish’s openness to a Premier League move was evident when he told friends he’s “open” to new challenges, driven by a desire to rediscover the form that made him a star at Villa.
Other clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, and Nottingham Forest, have been linked, though Tottenham’s interest has waned, and Newcastle’s financial constraints make a deal unlikely without disrupting their wage structure. Abroad, Napoli have made an initial approach, with Antonio Conte keen to pair Grealish with former teammate Kevin De Bruyne, but Grealish prefers to stay in England. Saudi clubs Al-Ahli, Al-Hilal, and Neom SC have also tabled lucrative offers, though Grealish’s focus remains on securing regular minutes in the Premier League to bolster his England prospects.
City’s willingness to accept a £40 million fee, a significant loss on their initial investment, reflects their intent to streamline the squad. “I’m Jack Grealish from Solihull who loves the Villa. That will never change,” Grealish said in 2024, hinting at his emotional ties to his boyhood club, though a Villa reunion remains speculative. With the transfer window closing on September 1, 2025, Grealish’s next move will be a defining moment. Whether he joins West Ham’s London revival or Everton’s new era, his pursuit of a fresh start promises to reshape his career, proving that the flair and fight that defined his rise are far from extinguished.
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