Grealish pens emotional letter to Aston Villa fans after sealing Man City move

Jack Grealish thanked Aston Villa supporters for their support in an emotional letter after completing his move to Manchester City, saying it was a ‘privilege and an honour’ to represent his boyhood club for 19 years.

The 25-year-old midfielder, who rose through Villa’s academy ranks to captain the side, joins Premier League champions City for a British record fee of £100million ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

Taking over the No.10 shirt, Grealish has put pen to paper on a six-year contract at the Etihad and provides another excellent option for Pep Guardiola, with City already boasting the likes of Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan.

In his official announcement video, Grealish admitted it was a tough decision to prise himself away from Villa, where he had been since the age of six.

But the England international, who starred at this summer’s European Championships, hopes Villa’s fanbase are able to understand the reasons behind him seeking a new challenge with a club of City’s stature.

‘I’ve been at Aston Villa for 19 years and I’ve bene a fan my whole life. I’ve come up through the ranks and captained my club back to the top tier of English football. It’s impossible to put my feelings into words, but I’ll try,’ Grealish said in a lengthy message on his social media pages.

‘When I first came to Villa I had my own personal dreams and ambitions like getting into the first team, scoring my first goal and scoring the winner in a derby. It wasn’t until we got relegated that I felt a greater sense of purpose.

‘Every time I put on the Villa shirt I played with my heart on my sleeve. Being the armband was both a privilege and an honour for me and my family and I’ve loved every minute of it.

‘I want to thank my manager and my team-mates, I’ll never forget everything we achieved together… and to the fans who have supported me through everything, I can’t thank you enough.

‘To all my coaches and all the people who work at the club behind the scenes who have done so much for me over the years – thank you.

‘I’ll always be a Villa fan – I love this club with all my heart and I hope you understand my reasons for seeking a new challenge. The club are in great hands, the manager, the lads, the new signings coming in – it’s an exciting time to be a Villa fan.

‘I’ll see you all again soon. Until next time. Jack.’

‘I am certain that the fans are going to love seeing him in our team. Pep loves the way he plays, and we all feel he is an ideal fit for Manchester City. Our style and his style are a perfect match.

‘I’m excited to watch him over the coming years.’

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