Manchester City have announced the signing of Jack Grealish from Aston Villa, breaking the British transfer record in a £100 million deal, the club announced on Thursday.
Grealish leaves his boyhood club Villa having made 213 appearances and scoring 32 goals since making his senior debut in 2014.
It will be the second time City have held the British transfer record after the arrival of Robinho from Real Madrid in 2008.
Manchester United have held the British transfer record seven times in the Premier League, while it has also been held twice by Chelsea.
Sources say Villa offered Grealish, their captain, a vastly improved deal to stay at Villa Park, but the 25-year-old has chosen to join City because of the lure of top trophies and regular Champions League football.
City first proposed a deal including £90m in transfer fees and winger Morgan Rogers — who is valued at £10m — but a straight cash offer of £100m has triggered a release clause in Grealish’s contract.
After making Grealish their first signing of the summer, City remain keen to sign Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane.
Kane wants to move to the Etihad, but Spurs are privately adamant he is not for sale. City believe they can finance deals for both Grealish and Kane this summer through player sales.
City have raised £109m through sales since the start of the pandemic and could raise another £50m this summer, even without a first-team player leaving.
Villa have been active in the transfer market this window, signing winger Leon Bailly from Bayer Leverkusen. winger Emiliano Buendia from Norwich and striker Danny Ings from Southampton.
Follow us on:
