Aug 3, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish (10) dribbles the ball against Chelsea defender Reece James (24) in the first half during the FC Series game at Ohio Stadium.

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Napoli Eye Jack Grealish Move as Manchester City Exit Nears

With two years remaining on his contract, Grealish is widely expected to leave Manchester City this summer.

Aug 3, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish (10) dribbles the ball against Chelsea defender Reece James (24) in the first half during the FC Series game at Ohio Stadium.

Manchester City winger Jack Grealish could be heading for a fresh start in Serie A as Italian giants Napoli are interested in securing his services this summer. According to reports in Italy, Napoli have already opened talks over a potential deal. The 29-year-old has endured a frustrating spell at City, falling down the pecking order under Pep Guardiola.

Signed from Aston Villa in 2021 for £100 million, Grealish was once the poster boy of City’s attack. He played a key role during the club’s treble-winning 2022-23 season, particularly during the title run-in. But last season saw a sharp decline. Grealish made 32 appearances across all competitions, starting only 16 matches. In the Premier League, he featured 20 times, with just seven starts and only one since the turn of the year. Notably, Grealish was also excluded from City’s Club World Cup squad.

Jack Grealish’s holiday in the Amalfi Coast this week has sparked transfer speculation of a possible move to Napoli as the Manchester City winger has already been linked with a move to the Stadio Maradona. pic.twitter.com/oSyWpg3NAz
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) July 23, 2025

Napoli To Offer Grealish a Fresh Start

Jack Grealish was also an unused substitute during Manchester City’s 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final. Guardiola has increasingly turned to other options on the flanks, including Phil Foden, Savinho, Jeremy Doku, and Omar Marmoush. All of these players played more regularly than Grealish in the last season.

With two years remaining on his contract, Grealish is widely expected to leave Man City this summer. As a result, Napoli are hoping to lure Grealish with the promise of regular football and a leadership role. A move would also see him reunite with Kevin De Bruyne, who joined Serie A champions Napoli as a free agent last month. He bid adieu to Manchester City last month, ending a glittering 10-year spell.

Napoli are exploring the possibility of a loan move, though much will depend on Grealish’s salary demands. The challenge for Napoli lies in negotiating a deal that fits their budget. Grealish’s salary could be a stumbling block unless City are willing to subsidize part of his wages to make the deal happen.

Jack Grealish

Manchester City

Napoli

Pep Guardiola

Abhinav Goel

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I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.