GOAL runs through the winger's possible next destinations after what appears to be the final nail in the coffin of his career at Etihad Stadium
"Of course, Jack has to play. He's an unbelievable player who has to play football every three days. It didn't happen this season and last season either," Pep Guardiola said after leaving Jack Grealish out of Manchester City's squad for their 2-0 win over Fulham on the final day of the Premier League season. "He needs to do it. With us or another place. It's a question for Jack, his agent and the club."
That was the politest possible way of saying 'you're not needed here anymore'. The final confirmation of that came on Wednesday, as Grealish was omitted from Guardiola's 27-man list of travelling players for the Club World Cup in the United States.
A new era is starting at City, who have already spent £116 million ($158m) on four new players this summer, and Grealish won't be part of it. It's a sad state of affairs for the 29-year-old, not only because he is not leaving on his own terms, but because he has arguably wasted the best years of his career trying to be something he's not under a manager known for discouraging freedom of expression.
Grealish struggled to adjust after completing his British-record £100m ($136m) transfer from Aston Villa to the Etihad in 2021, and although he played his part in City's historic treble success in 2022-23, the last two seasons have been completely miserable for the England international. Indeed, he was restricted to just seven Premier League starts in 2024-25 after falling behind Savinho and Jeremy Doku in the attacking pecking order, and failed to make the most of the rare chances he did get.
The unpredictable genius who thrilled Premier League crowds at Villa has been zapped of all confidence, and he's also surrendered his place in the England squad as a result. But all is not lost yet. Grealish can still get back to his scintillating best if he picks the right new club, and GOAL is on hand to rank the eight options available to the City outcast…
Getty8Saudi Pro League
According to , Grealish could make a fresh start outside of European football if he wishes. That's because Al-Qadsiah have expressed an interest in the winger – the Saudi Arabia-based club who finished fourth in the Pro League and reached the King's Cup final last season.
Grealish could link up with ex-Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Real Madrid legend Nacho at Al-Qadsiah, both of whom have enjoyed impressive debut campaigns in the Middle East. Several other top players have thrived individually in Saudi over the last couple of years, not least Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been able to prolong his illustrious career by banging in the goals for fun at Al-Nassr.
There is obviously a huge financial allure, too, and no one would begrudge Grealish if he decided to set his family up for life. But it would be a monumental waste of his talent, especially entering a World Cup year. If Grealish wants to be on the England plane to North America next summer, he has to stay in Europe's top five leagues and recapture the form that made him a household name at Villa.
AdvertisementGetty7AC Milan
A new challenge in Italy may also appeal to Grealish amid strong links to AC Milan, where he could reunite with former England team-mates Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Fikayo Tomori. Their presence would allow Grealish to settle into his new surroundings quickly, and it's likely he'd see regular minutes right from the off amid a lack of strength in depth in the final third for the Rossoneri.
That being said, it would be a big risk. Milan won't be playing European football next season after slumping to an eighth-place finish in Serie A, and they've become far too reliant on United States star Christian Pulisic to deliver them positive results.
The return of pragmatic head coach Massimiliano Allegri is not ideal for Grealish, either. He's lost his identity as a system player at City, and swapping one strict tactical set-up for another may only ensure he continues to stagnate.
Getty6Aston Villa
The romantic homecoming often proves impossible to resist; just ask Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney, and Neymar. Familiarity can often spark a turnaround in fortunes, so it's no surprise Grealish is reportedly open to returning to Aston Villa, where he racked up 75 goal involvements in 213 appearances between 2013 and 2021.
Unai Emery is said to rate Grealish highly, and he would certainly add some extra creativity to the Villa forward line, but getting a deal done may be beyond the Midlands club at this stage. As per , Villa are making it a priority to reduce their wage bill after failing to qualify for the Champions League left them in danger of breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Grealish is reportedly earning £300,000 a week at City, so unless he takes a massive pay cut or Villa sell a number of key players, this particular homecoming deal will remain little more than a pipe dream.
Getty Images Sport5Newcastle
Newcastle will be back in the Champions League next season, and desperately need to bolster their options on the flanks to improve on their disappointing showing in the competition in 2023-24, especially with Anthony Gordon emerging as a target for Arsenal and Tottenham. claims that Eddie Howe may turn to Grealish, and Newcastle are one of the few clubs with the financial might to match his wage demands.
That being said, the report adds that Newcastle would prefer a loan deal because they do not have much headroom left for transfer fees under PSR. It remains to be seen if City will be open to keeping Grealish on their books for another year, especially after Guardiola's recent insistence that he will quit if the squad is not trimmed down.
City may also be wary of strengthening a direct rival. When fully fit and firing, Grealish box-office maverick who could potentially help Newcastle make the next step towards title contention and become a cult hero for the Toon Army.
