Manchester City
How does Jack Grealish repay £100m of faith from Man City?
As recently as 2016, nine-figure price tags were unheard of in world football. That summer, a new transfer record was set when Manchester United splashed out £89 million on returning Paul Pogba to Old Trafford from Juventus.
Just 12 months later, the lid was blown off a combustible recruitment market in spectacular style. Once Paris Saint-Germain decided they were willing to trigger the €222m release clause in Neymar’s contract at Barcelona, nothing would be the same again.
Six deals worth £100m-plus have now been completed, with one of those raising a British-based bar in 2021. Said agreement saw Jack Grealish become the most expensive player England has ever seen when Manchester City lured him away from his West Midlands roots at Aston Villa.
Triumph
Jack Grealish. Premier League winner 🏆 pic.twitter.com/RS8xr2BOaX
— GOAL (@goal) May 22, 2022
It was always a safe bet football with markets relating to the Premier League would side with the team from East Manchester, and a title triumph was duly delivered in 2022. Pep Guardiola’s side remains a reliable pick in football tips as the Etihad Stadium ranks are loaded with proven performers of the very highest calibre.
Grealish slips seamlessly into that category, but he is yet to truly convince since completing a history-making switch to the North West. With all eyes on him last season, just six goals and four assists were recorded through 39 appearances in all competitions.
City are, with an abundance of creative riches at their disposal, in the fortunate position of being able to carry the odd passenger. If the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva are pulling the strings, then time can be afforded to those still finding their feet.
There will, however, come a point when returns are demanded on sizeable investments. Despite boasting the deepest of pockets, billionaire owners in the blue half of Manchester are not in the business of throwing money away.
Guardiola has been keen to rein in expectations around Grealish, with the England international not in his plans to score 20 goals a season while teeing up a similar number of efforts for grateful teammates. He is there to occupy and torment opponents while contributing to the cause collectively.
The end product is a must, though, for any player operating in his position. He has shown what he is capable of, with hope carried almost single-handedly at Villa, and is no longer a big fish in a small pond. What does he need to do to justify City’s show of faith?
Elusive
Jack Grealish scores on his home Manchester City debut and hits the Memphis celebration 👉👈 pic.twitter.com/7dRRoDOPCB
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 21, 2021
A domestic crown has already been claimed, but he can hardly be considered to have contributed tellingly there and City would probably still have prevailed without him. The Blues are also accustomed to collecting various domestic cups and actually drew a blank on that front during Grealish’s first season on their books.
With Champions League glory still proving elusive, it would appear that only the collection of a European trophy will allow the most elaborate purchase in British football history to be deemed a success. That is a big ask, particularly when competition for places is considered, but that is what you get for boasting the heftiest of price tags.
Leicester
Manchester City Women Player Ratings vs. Leicester: Khadija Shaw Brace Rescues Wasteful Leaders After Frustrating Display
Khadija Shaw’s late brace secured Manchester City an unconvincing 3-0 victory over resolute Leicester at the King Power Stadium, extending their WSL lead to six points. The Jamaica international was wasteful throughout before finally breaking through 16 minutes from time, with substitute Kerolin adding gloss with a stoppage-time third.
City dominated from the start but found Leicester’s defensive block impenetrable for 74 minutes. Shaw spurned multiple gilt-edged chances, hitting the side netting early and looping a header onto the roof of the net after the break. Vivianne Miedema was also repeatedly denied by inspired goalkeeper Janina Leitzig as City racked up 29 shots to Leicester’s two.
The breakthrough finally came when Shaw pounced on Celeste Boureille’s mistake to fire home. She added her second with a header in the 84th minute before Kerolin’s sublime finish in the 94th capped off City’s best-ever start to a WSL season.
Goalkeeper & Defence
Ayaka Yamashita (6/10): Had virtually nothing to do beyond passing to teammates. A training session for the Japanese keeper.
Kerstin Casparij (6/10): Never troubled defensively and got forward freely but didn’t significantly impact proceedings.
Jade Rose (6/10): The statistics of 29 shots to two tell the story. Precious little defending required.
Rebecca Knaak (7/10): Continues proving a handful in the air at both ends. Commanded the backline well.
Leila Ouahabi (7/10): Comfortable in possession and dealt with everything that came her way efficiently.
Midfield
Yui Hasegawa (6/10): Needed more style to her substance but played some nice touches to free teammates.
Laura Blindkilde Brown (6/10): Passing could have been quicker but stopped Leicester’s rare attacks with combative play.
Vivianne Miedema (7/10): Her first-half trickery came closest to unlocking Leicester’s dogged defence before her effectiveness waned.
Attack & Subs
Aoba Fujino (6/10): Ran at Leicester’s defence with wilful abandon but couldn’t bypass their low block.
Khadija Shaw (7/10): Missed a hatful before delivering when it mattered with two crucial goals. You only need a few seconds to have a successful game up front.
Lauren Hemp (6/10): Well shackled by Leicester’s doubled-up defence but assisted Shaw’s second.
Kerolin (8/10) ⭐: Added quality and dynamism off the bench. Got the crucial assist for Shaw’s opener before scoring a sublime late goal.
Andree Jeglertz’s side lacked creativity for long periods but his substitutions, particularly Kerolin, ultimately got the job done despite an unconvincing performance.
Arsenal Dragon
Chloe Kelly Opens Up on “Miserable” Manchester City Exit as She Reveals Arsenal Move “Exceeded Expectations”
Chloe Kelly has revealed her Arsenal transfer wasn’t just about playing time, it was crucial for her mental wellbeing after reportedly being “miserable” at the end of her Manchester City career.
The 27-year-old England forward spent six months on loan in North London last season before making the move permanent in summer, and hasn’t looked back. Speaking on Arsenal’s ‘Colney Carpool’ series, Kelly opened up about finding happiness at the Emirates while chasing more silverware.
“I came here to find happiness and to win but it has exceeded my expectations,” Kelly said. “I’m really grateful to Arsenal and I have a lot more to give for this club.”
Champions League Glory Still Burning
After winning the Champions League and Euros in 2025, Kelly enjoyed a near-perfect year. But rather than resting on those laurels, the former City star is hungry for more.
“It’s the best competition to play in. To win it was incredible but it makes you hungry for more success,” she explained. “At this club we strive for greatness and we were able to do that last season, but this season we want more.”
Her comments come as Arsenal navigate a difficult start to the current campaign, sitting well off the pace in the WSL title race despite their European success.
Ballon d’Or Recognition
Kelly’s exceptional 2025 earned her a first Ballon d’Or nomination, finishing fifth in the final placings behind Arsenal teammates Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo.
The ceremony provided a memorable moment when she found herself just seats away from childhood hero Ronaldinho. “I remember watching clips of him as a young girl and to be in the same room as him just a few seats down, it was special,” Kelly recalled.
Sports Personality Favourite
Kelly is now the frontrunner to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025, with the winner announced on December 18. The award would cap off a remarkable year that’s seen her transform from City misery to Arsenal happiness while collecting major trophies and individual recognition along the way.
Manchester City
Manchester City Install 10,000 Solar Panels Across Academy to Power Next Generation of Stars Sustainably
Manchester City are installing over 10,000 solar panels across their City Football Academy in an ambitious sustainability project that will offset the entire complex’s annual energy consumption.
The initiative, which includes nearly 3,000 panels already installed on the Joie Stadium roof, home to City’s women’s team, will power training sessions, recovery rooms and analytics suites where the next generation of stars are being developed.
Net Zero Carbon Target by 2030
The solar programme forms the centrepiece of City’s pledge to reach net zero carbon by 2030, encompassing everything from matchday waste to academy canteen food. According to the club’s sustainability report, the renewable energy system will power floodlights, treadmills and performance monitoring equipment entirely without fossil fuels once fully operational.
City currently sit 28th in the Pledgeball League but are positioning themselves as leaders in football sustainability. The project includes complementary measures like compostable packaging, water-efficient landscaping and spaces designed to support biodiversity from bees to bats.
The academy has already produced stars like Phil Foden, Nico O’Reilly and Rico Lewis using traditional energy sources. City believe this sustainable infrastructure will help develop future talent whilst simultaneously addressing football’s global carbon footprint.
Practical Benefits Beyond Green Credentials
The solar installation provides tangible advantages beyond environmental benefits. The energy generated buffers against energy price volatility and could be redirected to the Etihad Stadium during peak demand periods. Few European clubs operate training complexes powered so extensively by renewable energy, giving City a competitive edge.
Manchester’s famously grey weather presents challenges for solar output, but City have integrated the panels into a wider energy strategy with efficiency measures and smart-grid management. The club remains confident the academy will stay powered sustainably year-round despite seasonal variations.
The project sends a message to young players that innovation off the pitch matters as much as brilliance on it. Every sprint, pass and tactical drill will be indirectly powered by the sun, with the next generation learning about resilience and responsibility alongside their football development.
Also read: What Is Islington’s Highest Honour? Why Were Arsenal Women Awarded the Same?
- Liverpool13 years ago
Raheem Sterling Age 17 Kids 3 Women 2
- Arsenal13 years ago
Etienne Capoue To Become An Arsenal Player In Summer
- Arsenal13 years ago
Arsenal Defender Nacho Monreal Doesn’t Agree The Direction The Club Is Going.
- Arsenal13 years ago
Robin van Persie wants to move back to Arsenal
- Arsenal13 years ago
Report: Arsenal Could Sign A Striker Next Week
- Headlines13 years ago
Manchester United Preparing A (Javier Hernandez + De Gea + 55 Million) Bid For Ronaldo
- Arsenal13 years ago
Arsenal Planning To Bring In ‘Next Fabregas’
- Headlines13 years ago
Three Reasons Why Manchester United Must Sign This “Next Vidic”