Jack Grealish ‘dropped from Manchester City squad for final game of season’ as £100m man edges closer to transfer exit
On May 25, 2025, Jack Grealish’s absence from Manchester City’s squad for their crucial final Premier League match against Fulham sent shockwaves through football, intensifying rumors of a summer transfer exit. The £100 million star, who joined City from Aston Villa in 2021, has struggled for game time in 2025, starting just one Premier League match and logging only 143 minutes across six appearances (The Irish Sun, May 25, 2025). This development, echoing Taylor Fritz’s mental struggles amid tennis’ doping controversy, underscores the pressures athletes face (Sportskeeda, May 24, 2025).
Pep Guardiola’s decision to exclude Grealish, who was also an unused substitute in City’s FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace, signals a shift. With City needing a point at Craven Cottage to secure Champions League qualification, Guardiola opted for younger talents like Claudio Echeverri, prompting Alan Shearer to declare Grealish’s “time is up” at City (Daily Mail, May 24, 2025). Grealish’s late exit from Kevin De Bruyne’s farewell party at 1:35 a.m. days prior raised eyebrows, though Guardiola cited poor training performances (The Athletic, Jan 11, 2025).
Grealish’s 2025 has been marred by injuries and competition from Jeremy Doku, Savinho, and Omar Marmoush, reducing him to a peripheral role (Football365, Feb 10, 2025). His exclusion from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad further dims his international prospects (The Irish Sun, May 25, 2025). X posts, like @idextratime’s report on his likely summer sale, reflect fan sentiment (X, May 25, 2025). Potential destinations include Tottenham, Arsenal, or Al Hilal, though his £300,000-a-week wages pose challenges (Mirror, May 20, 2025).
Despite his Treble-winning contributions in 2022-23, Grealish’s lack of goals since 2023 and diminished flair have drawn criticism (The Athletic, Jan 11, 2025). Like Fritz battling self-doubt, Grealish faces a career crossroads. With two years left on his contract, his next move could define his legacy (The Irish Sun, May 25, 2025).
