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Jack Grealish

Grealish training with Manchester City in 2024

Personal information

Date of birth

10 September 1995 (age 29)

Place of birth

Birmingham, West Midlands, England

Height

5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m)

Playing position

Winger, attacking midfielder

Club information

Current club

Manchester City

Number

Youth career

Highgate United

0000–2013

Aston Villa

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps^†

(Gls)^†

2013–2021

Aston Villa

185

(29)

2013–2014

→ Notts County (loan)

(5)

2021–

Manchester City

(11)

National team^‡

2011–2012

Republic of Ireland U17

(3)

2012–2013

Republic of Ireland U18

(2)

2013–2014

Republic of Ireland U21

(1)

2016–2017

England U21

(2)

2020–

England

(4)

Honours

Men's football

Representing England
UEFA European Championship
Runner-up	2020

Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:49, 19 January 2025 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18:50, 13 October 2024 (UTC)

Jack Peter Grealish, born on September 10, 1995, is an English professional footballer. He plays as a winger or attacking midfielder. He plays for Manchester City and the England national team.

Jack joined Aston Villa when he was six years old. He played his first game for the club in May 2014. Before that, he was on loan at Notts County. He became Aston Villa's captain in 2019. In 2021, Manchester City bought Jack for £100 million. This made him the most expensive British player at that time. In his first year with Manchester City, he won a Premier League title. In his second year, he won three major trophies, known as a continental treble.

Jack was born in England and has Irish family. He could choose to play for England or the Republic of Ireland. He played for the Republic of Ireland up to the under-21 level. In April 2016, he decided to play for England. He first played for the England under-21s in May 2016. They won the 2016 Toulon Tournament. He has played for the senior England team in UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Early Life and Family Background

Jack Grealish was born in Birmingham, England. He grew up in Solihull, a town nearby. He went to Catholic schools in Solihull.

Jack has Irish family roots. His grandfathers came from County Dublin and Gort, County Galway. His grandmother came from Sneem, County Kerry. Because of his Irish background, Jack played Gaelic football. He played for John Mitchel's Hurling and Camogie Club. He played from age 10 to 14. In 2009, he scored a point at Croke Park. This was during a big Gaelic football match.

Jack's great-great-grandfather, Billy Garraty, was also a footballer. He played for England once. He won the 1905 FA Cup Final with Aston Villa. Jack has a sister named Hollie. She has cerebral palsy. Jack calls her his "best friend."

Jack Grealish's Club Career

Starting at Aston Villa

Jack was a big fan of Aston Villa. He joined their youth team when he was six years old. Before that, he played for Highgate United. When he was 16, he was a substitute for Aston Villa. This was in a Premier League game in March 2012. Jack was part of the club's under-19 team. They won the 2012–13 NextGen Series competition.

Loan to Notts County (2013–2014)

On September 13, 2013, Jack joined Notts County. This was a youth loan until January 2014. Notts County is a club in League One. He played his first game the next day. He came on as a substitute in a 3–1 loss.

On December 7, he scored his first goal. He dribbled past three defenders to score. A week later, he scored again in a 4–0 win. Jack stayed on loan with Notts County until the season ended. He finished his loan with five goals. He also had seven assists in 38 games.

Developing at Aston Villa (2014–2016)

Grealish playing for Aston Villa in 2014

After his loan, Jack returned to Aston Villa. He played his first game for Villa on May 7, 2014. He came on as a substitute in a 4–0 loss to Manchester City. He started his first game on August 27. This was a League Cup match.

In September 2014, he was offered a new four-year contract. He signed it on October 14. On March 7, 2015, he played in an FA Cup game. He was sent off for a second yellow card. On April 7, he started his first Premier League game for Villa. His performance was highly praised.

On April 18, in the FA Cup semi-final, Jack helped Villa win. He assisted one of their goals. Villa won 2–1 against Liverpool. On May 30, Jack played in the 2015 FA Cup final. Villa lost 4–0 to Arsenal.

Jack scored his first goal for Villa on September 13, 2015. It was a 20-yard shot against Leicester City. Villa lost that game 3–2. Villa finished last in the Premier League that season. They were relegated to the Championship. Jack played 16 games that season, all of them were losses.

Overcoming Injuries (2016–2019)

In September 2016, Aston Villa started an investigation. This was after reports that Jack was at a party. The police had to shut it down. The club owner said Jack needed to focus. In October, he was suspended for three games. This was for a foul on Conor Coady.

On July 29, 2017, Jack was badly injured. He collided with a player during a friendly game. He was rushed to the hospital. He had a ruptured kidney. This injury kept him out of action for several months. He later said the injury was life-threatening.

On March 10, 2019, Jack was attacked. A fan ran onto the field and punched him. This happened during a game against Birmingham City. Later in the game, Jack scored the winning goal. The fan was sent to prison.

Jack became the team captain in March 2019. Under his leadership, Villa won 10 league games in a row. This helped them reach the play-offs. They won against West Bromwich Albion and Derby County. This meant Aston Villa was promoted back to the Premier League.

Becoming Club Captain and Star Player (2019–2021)

After Aston Villa returned to the Premier League, Jack became the official club captain. His first goal of the 2019–20 season was in the 2019–20 EFL Cup. It was against Crewe Alexandra. His first Premier League goal of the season was on October 5. He scored in a 5–1 win over Norwich City. This win moved Villa out of the bottom three.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Premier League was paused. Jack was fouled 167 times during the 2019–20 Premier League season. This was a new record for the most fouls won by a player. He scored on the last day of the season. This helped Aston Villa stay in the Premier League. At the end of the season, fans and players voted him Aston Villa's Player of the Season. He was also the club's top scorer with 10 goals.

On September 15, 2020, Jack signed a new five-year contract. He scored his first league goal of the new season on September 28. It was in a 3–0 win against Fulham. On October 4, he scored twice and assisted three goals. This was in a huge 7–2 win over Liverpool. It was Liverpool's biggest defeat in 57 years.

Moving to Manchester City

Joining Manchester City (2021–2022)

Grealish playing for Manchester City in 2021

On August 5, 2021, Manchester City announced they signed Jack. He signed a six-year contract. Reports said the transfer fee was £100 million. This made him the most expensive English player ever. It was also the highest fee paid by a British club. Jack was given the number 10 shirt. This shirt was previously worn by Sergio Agüero.

Jack played his first game for City on August 15, 2021. They lost 1–0 to Tottenham Hotspur. On August 21, he scored his first goal for City. It was in a 5–0 win over Norwich City. He also scored on his UEFA Champions League debut. This was on September 15 in a 6–3 win against RB Leipzig.

Jack won a Premier League title in his first season. He admitted it was hard to adapt to City's style of play. His teammate Kevin De Bruyne defended him. He said Jack was an easy target for criticism.

Winning the Treble (2022–2023)

On September 17, 2022, Jack scored his first goal of the new season. It was in a win against Wolverhampton Wanderers. On December 28, he assisted two goals for Erling Haaland. This was in a 3–1 win against Leeds United. Jack scored the first goal in the Manchester derby on January 14, 2023. City lost that game 2–1 to Manchester United.

On February 15, he scored in a 3–1 win against Arsenal. This helped City take the lead in the Premier League title race. Jack was praised for his performance against Liverpool on April 1. City won 4–1. He scored and assisted a goal in that match. He also scored and assisted in a 4–1 win against Southampton.

In the Champions League semi-finals, Jack created 35 chances. This was a record for an English player in one season. He was a star player when City beat Real Madrid 4–0.

On May 20, 2023, Jack won his second Premier League title. Manchester City lifted the trophy the next day. On June 3, Jack played in the 2023 FA Cup final. City beat Manchester United. He said this was "the stuff you dream of when you're a little kid." One week later, he played in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final. Manchester City won their first continental treble. Jack said this was "what you work your whole life for." He called his manager, Pep Guardiola, a "genius."

After this successful season, many people praised Jack. They said he had settled into the club. He was living up to his big price tag. Neil Johnston from BBC Sport said Jack had become "almost undroppable" for big games. Jack himself said he felt like "one of the main players" and was "the fittest" he had ever been.

Recent Success (2023–present)

Grealish playing for Manchester City in 2023

On August 16, 2023, Jack played in the 2023 UEFA Super Cup. Manchester City won against Sevilla. Jack scored his penalty in the shoot-out. He missed some games due to a leg injury. On October 25, he started a game against Young Boys. His manager, Pep Guardiola, said he had no doubts about Jack. On October 29, Jack returned to the starting team for the Manchester derby. He was highly praised for his performance.

On January 11, 2025, Jack scored his first club goal in over a year. It was a penalty in an 8–0 win. This was against Salford City in the FA Cup. On January 22, 2025, he scored his first Champions League goal since 2021-22. It was for Manchester City in a 4-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

International Career

Playing for Ireland's Youth Teams

When Jack played for Irish youth teams, England wanted him to play for them. He was even named in their under-17 team in 2011. He was only 15, but he said no to the invitation.

In May 2013, the Republic of Ireland under-21 manager said Jack was thinking about playing for England. Jack made his under-21 debut for Ireland in August 2013. In 2013, Jack said he still wanted to play for Ireland. In August 2014, he was named to the Ireland under-21 squad again. He played for Ireland in a 2–0 loss to Germany. It was later known that Jack had said no to playing for the senior Irish team.

In October 2014, Jack did not join the Ireland under-21 squad. He chose to play in a friendly game for Aston Villa. The England under-21 manager said they were watching Jack. Reports said Jack would play for Ireland's senior team. But Jack said this was not true. In March 2015, Jack won an award for the Under-21 player of the year from Ireland. He said he had taken a break from youth games to focus on Aston Villa. He expected to play for Ireland again soon. In May 2015, Ireland's manager confirmed Jack had said no to another call-up.

Representing England

On September 28, 2015, Jack confirmed his decision. He would play for England at the international level. He played his first game for England under-21s on May 19, 2016. This was in a 1–0 win over Portugal. In his first start, he scored two goals. This was in a 7–1 win over Guinea. England won the 2016 Toulon Tournament. From 2016 to 2017, he played seven games for the under-21s. He scored two goals.

On August 31, 2020, Jack was called up to the senior England squad. This was for games against Iceland and Denmark. On September 8, he played his first senior game. It was a 0–0 draw against Denmark.

On June 1, 2021, Jack was named in the squad for UEFA Euro 2020. On June 29, in a game against Germany, Jack came on as a substitute. He helped with both goals in a 2–0 win. He passed to Luke Shaw for the first goal. He crossed for Harry Kane to score the second. On October 9, 2021, Jack scored his first international goal. This was in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification game against Andorra.

During England's first game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on November 21, 2022, Jack scored. It was England's sixth goal against Iran. When he scored, Jack waved his arms. He later said this celebration was for a young Manchester City fan named Finlay. Finlay has cerebral palsy and had asked him to do it. This gesture was praised by the media.

Jack was not a regular player for England until he became a star at Manchester City. He was sometimes called 'England's enigma'. Jack was not chosen for the final England squad for UEFA Euro 2024.

Personal Life

Jack Grealish has known his girlfriend, Sasha Rebecca Attwood, since they met in secondary school. They met when they were 16.

Jack has a close friendship with many of his Manchester City teammates. He is especially close with Erling Haaland. Jack said he gets along "really well with him." He said they have "the same type of banter." Jack has said that Elvis Presley and Queen are two of his favorite music artists.

In December 2023, thieves broke into his home. They reportedly stole jewelry and watches. These items were worth about £1 million.

Career Statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Europe		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Aston Villa	2013–14	Premier League	1	0	—		0	0	—		—		1	0
	2014–15	Premier League	17	0	6	0	1	0	—		—		24	0
	2015–16	Premier League	16	1	2	0	3	0	—		—		21	1
	2016–17	Championship	31	5	1	0	1	0	—		—		33	5
	2017–18	Championship	27	3	1	0	0	0	—		3	0	31	3
	2018–19	Championship	31	6	0	0	1	0	—		3	0	35	6
	2019–20	Premier League	36	8	0	0	5	2	—		—		41	10
	2020–21	Premier League	26	6	0	0	1	1	—		—		27	7
	Total		185	29	10	0	12	3	0	0	6	0	213	32
Notts County (loan)	2013–14	League One	37	5	1	0	—		—		1	0	39	5
Manchester City	2021–22	Premier League	26	3	4	2	1	0	7	1	1	0	39	6
	2022–23	Premier League	28	5	5	0	3	0	13	0	1	0	50	5
	2023–24	Premier League	20	3	3	0	1	0	8	0	4	0	36	3
	2024–25	Premier League	15	0	1	1	1	0	5	1	0	0	22	2
	Total		89	11	13	3	6	0	33	2	6	0	147	16
Career total			311	45	24	3	18	3	33	2	13	0	399	53

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
England	2020	5	0
	2021	13	1
	2022	11	1
	2023	6	0
	2024	4	2
Total		39	4

England score listed first, score column indicates score after each Grealish goal

List of international goals scored by Jack Grealish
No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	9 October 2021	Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella, Andorra	16	Andorra	5–0	5–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	21 November 2022	Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar	25	Iran	6–1	6–2	2022 FIFA World Cup
3	7 September 2024	Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland	37	Republic of Ireland	2–0	2–0	2024–25 UEFA Nations League B
4	13 October 2024	Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland	39	Finland	1–0	3–1	2024–25 UEFA Nations League B