With the news of Jack Grealish at Manchester City having cost a British-record £100 million in the summer of 2021 to sign the player from Aston Villa, expectations went through the roof. The Englishman had just finished off a stellar season with Vila. He also featured regularly for England at Euro 2020 and was widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s most electrifying talents.
Grealish thrived in the Premier League at the time with his dribbling skills, and the ability to get past several challenges to win fouls for his team in crucial positions. But three seasons on, it’s fair to say Grealish’s City career has not lived up to its blockbuster billing.
Even at the time he was signed by Manchester City, many felt the price paid for him was a bit too much, and now that it seems he has not made a mark at the Etihad, an exit might just be imminent. So, what went wrong for Jack Grealish at Manchester City? He is a player once dubbed the crown jewel of English football.
The Weight of the Price Tag
This is usually the first point to point out when it concerns big money moves. Many have come before Grealish, but his transfer fee was the highest ever paid by a British club at the time — a fact that brought with it immense pressure. Manchester City pay huge fees for players regularly, but Grealish’s own was a big surprise. If he had come for something lower, the pressure and reception would have been reasonable.
Without mincing words, it was clear from day one that Grealish would not be replicating the same eye-catching numbers he posted at Villa. In his breakthrough season at Villa, he produced just seven goals and 12 assists in 27 appearances. By the time he arrived at City, he finished the 2021/22 season with six goals and just four assists in all competitions.
In his second season at the Etihad, Grealish showed some improvements as Manchester City claimed the treble. The Englishman made 50 appearances that campaign, contributing 11 assists and 5 goals. Over the past two campaigns, Grealish produced 14 goal contributions in 68 games in all competitions. At some point, Grealish went a year without a goal for Manchester City.
Although the price tag was not his fault, it is often hung over his head — a constant benchmark by which his performances were judged.
Jack Grealish at Manchester City: System vs. Freedom
I’ll say it—there is a case to be made that this isn’t isolated, and that Pep Guardiola is known to have ruined players.
After the weight of the price tag pulled him down, the next problem Grealish encountered was that he could not fit into the Pep Guardiola system at Manchester City. At Aston Villa, Grealish was given almost total freedom. He was at the heart of everything for the team — dictating tempo, carrying the ball upfield, winning fouls, and making things happen. He usually starts on the left, but he had the license to drift infield at will, and take up different positions in attack. Everything went through him.
At Manchester City, it is Pep Guardiola’s system or nothing. The former Barcelona manager is big on positional discipline, and probably Lionel Messi has enjoyed freedom under him more. As a perfectionist that Guardiola is, the margins for error are smaller. Ball retention is also prized over flair. Grealish, often used as a left winger, was asked to hold width, recycle possession, and wait for overlaps rather than driving into central pockets or attacking defenders as he once did while at Villa.
Given the style and system Pep Guardiola’s career has been devoted to. It was surprising to see the Spanish coach speak highly of Grealish when he was signed back in 2021.
“It was the first time I saw him playing,” said Pep. “Years ago, when I saw him for the first time.
“He controls the tempo when he accelerates and decelerates. Especially when I saw him when we played Aston Villa, the physicality, the mentality.
“I liked many things we saw, that’s why we tried, especially Txiki, Txiki was completely in love with him so that’s why we decided to try. We could do it because we could sell, otherwise Jack would still be a Villa player.
“We believe that he will be perfect for us and for the age, quality plus he is English. I’m sure he will be an incredible player for the national team and we’re delighted to have him with us.”
Despite those kind words, Guardiola did not use him as described. In essence, he reshaped Grealish into a safer, more system-oriented player. While this was beneficial tactically — helping City control games — it stripped Grealish of his most thrilling qualities.
Another factor that contributed to Grealish’s failure at City is perhaps that the timing was wrong. Grealish joined City just as the team was beginning to take shape. The arrival of Erling Haaland in 2022 meant City started to play more directly, often bypassing the intricate play in wide areas that once allowed wingers like Sterling to excel.
Media Scrutiny and Off-field Distractions
While one can argue that injuries were not kind to him, his personality off the pitch did not help matters. During his time at City, his nightlife has made more headlines than his football at times.
Back in 2022, a video of Jack Grealish being ‘too drunk to get into a bar’ went viral. Grealish, along with City teammates Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez, went out for a few drinks, and things seemingly got a bit too much for the former Aston Villa man. In 2023, during City’s treble celebrations, a scene where he almost fell off the team bus became viral on social media.
More recently, in 2025, the Man City attacker was pictured in different drinking spots, a day after featuring in Man City’s 3-1 FA Cup win over Plymouth Argyle. The 29-year-old was later in other pubs, including a social club in Washington, where he put £500 behind the bar to pay for the locals’ drinks.
For someone who has consistently undelivered in a Manchester City shirt – that public perception — fair or not — has only amplified scrutiny when his on-pitch performances dip.
Redemption or Exit?
Although Guardiola has repeatedly defended him publicly, emphasizing his importance and adaptability, it seems he does not have a future at the Etihad.
At the time of writing this piece, Manchester City have not received any formal offers for out-of-favour midfielder Jack Grealish, who turns 30 in September. Meanwhile, Manchester City have already signed eight players in 2025. Based on that, we can expect to see a surge in demand for Manchester City tickets next season as they aim to reclaim the Premier League title from the hands of Liverpool.
With all the challenges and the recent decision from Pep Guardiola to omit him from the FIFA Club World Cup squad, this might just be the end of the road for him.
Due to his huge salary, a loan move away from the Etihad seems the most likely option for whoever can stump up sufficient cash to make that viable.
Main photo credit: IMAGO / Sportsphoto