Grealish left out of Club World Cup squad as Manchester City prepare for his exit

Jack Grealish’s time at Manchester City appears to be coming to an end. The £100 million signing has been left out of the squad for the FIFA Club World Cup and is actively seeking a new club after a season in which he played a minimal role under Pep Guardiola.

Grealish, who joined City from Aston Villa in 2021 for a British record fee, was a central figure in the team that won the treble in 2023, but has since seen his importance decline sharply. This past Premier League season, he started only seven matches, and he was benched for the FA Cup final, where teenager Claudio Echeverri made his debut instead.

According to The Telegraph, the England international will not travel to the U.S. for the Club World Cup, a clear signal from the club that he is no longer in their plans. At the same time, City are finalising deals for Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, with both expected to arrive for a combined fee exceeding €100 million.

Grealish, who turns 30 next summer, is determined to stay in the England setup under Thomas Tuchel ahead of the 2026 World Cup, but to do so, he needs regular minutes—something he’s unlikely to find at the Etihad.

City manager Pep Guardiola didn’t hide his frustration with how Grealish’s situation has unfolded. “Of course he needs to play,” he told the media. “He’s an incredible player, and he should be playing every three days. It didn’t happen this season, or last season. But he has to. If not here, then somewhere else.”

Grealish’s £350,000-a-week salary and his hefty transfer fee could complicate a permanent move. A loan deal might be a more realistic short-term solution. Meanwhile, Premier League clubs are reportedly monitoring his situation closely.

The case echoes that of Marcus Rashford, who revitalised his career with Aston Villa under Unai Emery, and Grealish may hope for a similar revival—perhaps even returning to the club where he made his name.