There had been rumours swirling in recent days of a possible contract announcement concerning Jack Grealish – this superb news has today been confirmed.
In an update made through official channels, Grealish has announced in person that he has signed a new deal to keep him at Aston Villa.
Whilst many supporters will have painful memories of the Fabian Delph debacle, this has the feeling of a more carefully managed negotiation to keep Villa’s marquee player at the club until 2025.
DEAL OR NO DEAL?
Grealish has been the subject of intense speculation linking him with a move away from Villa Park, with the player himself non-committal on his future prior to the club avoiding relegation on the final day of last season.
The England international, now 25, has signed an improved five year deal. Whilst the finer details is understandably not in the public domain, this underlines not just his value to the football club but hopefully the captain’s commitment to a long term project.
Villa arguably did well to retain Grealish in the summer of 2018 as the club lurched perilously close to financial ruin and once more in ensuring he stay to lead Villa’s first season back in the Premier League in 2019/20.
The biggest achievement is undoubtedly convincing Grealish that his immediate future remains at Villa Park, as Dean Smith looks set to lead the club into a second top flight term, supported by big money reinforcements.
Whilst the determination and resolve to rebutt Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal’s advances might not be fully known, it does still feel like a major coup to go into the new campaign with absolute certainty about Grealish’s future.
Despite Villa having made moves already in the transfer window, and some deals set to be finalised imminently, one still cannot help but think that Jack Grealish’s signing could be the biggest achievement of them all.
IN QUOTES
Embed from Getty ImagesI am delighted to make this commitment to Villa. It is my club, my home and I am very happy here. The owners have made it very clear to me how ambitious they are and how they want to build Aston Villa. There are exciting times ahead and I am very glad to be a part of it.”
Jack Grealish statement via Twitter.
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Featured Photo and In-page embed credit: AVFC
Super, super Jack,
Super, super Jack,
Super, super Jack,
Super, super Jackie Grealish!
Absolutely fantastic news for the club (as if there was ever any doubt). The question now is how will he line up for the club after signing a new deal? Will he get his preferred central midfield role? Will he stay on the left side of our attack (where he produced his most effective contributions last season)? Will he start playing as a number 10 or be given a free role? It’ll be interesting to see how we line up tonight.