Transfer News: Jack Grealish signs new five-year deal at Aston Villa

Jack Grealish signs new five-year deal at Aston Villa

• Villa’s captain Grealish has signed a new contract with Aston Villa
• The new deal ends speculation that the England international could join Manchester United this summer
• Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic

Jack Grealish has agreed to a new £135,000 per week deal.

Grealish has signed a new five-year deal worth about £135,000 per week to keep him at Upton Park.

The Villa captain has been subject of speculation with a transfer to Manchester United touted.

The board was convinced on keeping the 25-year old as he helped Villa stay in the Premier League with a goal in the 1-1 draw at West Ham on the final day of last season.

Villa had no interest in discussing a deal for their homegrown star at anything below £80million – a fee only a handful of clubs could contemplate after the coronavirus pandemic reshaped the financial landscape of football.

Grealish’s haul of eight goals and six assists in the league last term underlined his importance to the team and his decision to re-sign will delight manager Dean Smith, with whom Grealish shares a very close relationship.

United are believed to have tested the water for Grealish in January but their priority during this window has been Jadon Sancho, with Borussia Dortmund holding firm on their asking price in excess of £100m.

Grealish’s ambition is to play in the Champions League but he has recently forced his way into Gareth Southgate’s England squad, making his senior debut in the Nations League clash in Denmark earlier this month.

With Grealish’s immediate future secured, Villa will be aiming for better progress this season after they stayed up last term by a single point.

The Villains travel to Burton for an EFL Cup clash on Tuesday night.