In a revelation that added a dash of camaraderie to the competitive world of Premier League football, Manchester City’s Jack Grealish was part of a secretive WhatsApp group dubbed ‘The Avengers,’ alongside five other top-flight stars. The group, which included Tottenham’s James Maddison, Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell, former Spurs midfielder Dele Alli, and Aston Villa’s Ross Barkley and John McGinn, became known for its playful ‘A’ hand gesture celebration after goals, a nod to their tight-knit bond formed during a 2020 winter break in Dubai. The story of this star-studded chat, brimming with banter and friendship, has captured fans’ imaginations, offering a glimpse into the lighter side of elite football.
The ‘Avengers’ group chat came to light when Maddison, then at Leicester City, spilled the beans during a 2020 interview, explaining the origin of the ‘A’ celebration that players flashed after scoring. “We have a little group chat called The Avengers,” Maddison shared with a grin, revealing that the group included Grealish, Chilwell, Alli, Barkley, McGinn, and a few non-football friends, totaling about 10 or 12 members. The celebration, a simple but striking ‘A’ formed with their fingers, became a hallmark of their goals in the 2020/21 season, with Grealish and Maddison leading the charge. Grealish, then Aston Villa’s captain, later elaborated on the group’s dynamics, noting, “Me or Madders. On that point [Maddison] is on the group chat 24/7. Someone writes in it and then bam, he’s ready straight away. Constantly in there.” He contrasted this with Chilwell’s more reserved approach, joking, “Then there’s people like Chilly, he’d be online and he wouldn’t read it.”
The group’s origins traced back to a mid-season getaway to Dubai, where the players, despite representing rival clubs, bonded over shared experiences as young Premier League talents. Grealish, with a chuckle, admitted he hadn’t even seen the Marvel films that inspired the group’s name, saying, “Have you watched the film Avengers? I haven’t. But that’s like loads of people or something, like a group? I didn’t even know that [it’s an elite group of individuals]. I don’t even know who put it together actually.” The lighthearted confusion only added to the group’s charm, as fans delighted in the idea of England’s brightest stars swapping messages and memes off the pitch.
The ‘Avengers’ weren’t just about banter; they represented a golden generation of English midfielders, with Grealish, Maddison, and Chilwell featuring in Gareth Southgate’s England squads during the 2020/21 season. McGinn, a Scotland international, shone for his country, while Barkley and Alli, though on the fringes of England selection, brought their own flair. The group’s ‘A’ celebration became a symbol of their unity, with Maddison’s three goals and three assists for Leicester, and Grealish’s standout performances for Villa, showcasing their on-field impact. However, by 2024, the group’s influence waned, as Grealish and Maddison were controversially omitted from England’s Euro 2024 squad, and Alli and Barkley faced career challenges, with Chilwell sidelined by injuries.
For Grealish, now 29 and navigating a reduced role at Manchester City, the ‘Avengers’ chat remains a nostalgic reminder of simpler times. His £100 million move to City in 2021 brought trophies, including three Premier League titles and a Champions League, but limited minutes in 2025 have sparked transfer rumors, with Tottenham a potential destination to reunite him with Maddison. “A move to Spurs would reunite him with Maddison, a close friend and fellow member of a WhatsApp group named ‘The Avengers,’” noted a recent report, highlighting their enduring bond. Despite earning £300,000 a week, Grealish’s quest for regular football could see the chat revived with fresh transfer gossip.
The ‘Avengers’ WhatsApp group, though less active today, remains a testament to the friendships forged in the high-pressure world of Premier League football. Its legacy lives on in the ‘A’ celebration, a fleeting gesture that captured a moment when six stars aligned, united by a shared love for the game and a cheeky group chat that kept them grounded amidst the glitz of stardom.
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