Atlético Madrid considering Jack Grealish, but transfer from Manchester City is still far from completion
Atlético Madrid are monitoring Jack Grealish's situation and considering the possibility of attempting to sign the English winger from Manchester City during the summer transfer window. The information was published by the British outlet SunSport on 2 August, reporting that the Madrid club value the 30-year-old for his work both on and off the ball and that coach Diego Simeone sees him as a player who could fit into his system. At the same time, according to the same source, Atlético have not yet moved from monitoring the situation to making an official offer, nor has it been confirmed that the two clubs have opened formal negotiations. For that reason, the story must currently be viewed as a transfer possibility rather than a deal close to being completed. Grealish is entering the final year of his contract with Manchester City, making his status one of the more interesting unresolved topics in the closing stages of the summer market.
Interest exists, but there is no official confirmation of negotiations
According to SunSport, Simeone particularly appreciates Grealish's work ethic and his ability to retain possession under pressure, draw fouls, connect midfield with attack and contribute to defensive duties. At first glance, such a profile fits the demands of a coach who regularly requires discipline, tracking back behind the ball and a willingness to work intensely in both directions from his wingers and attacking midfielders. However, the British newspaper also highlights the obstacles: Atlético already have a large number of players for positions behind the striker and along the touchline, so Grealish would not be guaranteed a place in the starting line-up. As of 3 August 2026, no information about an offer, agreement or medical examination had been published through the official channels of Atlético or Manchester City. The most important fact therefore remains that a possible transfer is being considered, while the financial terms, Grealish's expected role and Manchester City's position are not officially known.
Manchester City and Atlético are scheduled to meet in a pre-season match in Seoul on 9 August, which is attracting additional public attention, but there is no confirmation that the match is connected to potential negotiations. The English club published a list of 28 players for the Asian tour, and Grealish is not on it. City explained that some first-team players are taking their prescribed rest after participating in the World Cup and that certain players will join later, but the official announcement did not individually explain Grealish's absence. SunSport reports that he returned to training after a foot injury and worked in Spain to maintain his fitness. This does not mean that a transfer to Atlético is close, but it shows that his future is being resolved while the teams are already preparing for the new season.
Contract until the summer of 2027 changes the negotiating position
Manchester City signed Grealish from Aston Villa on 5 August 2021 and officially announced at the time that he had signed a six-year contract, meaning an agreement valid until the summer of 2027. British media reported that the transfer fee was £100 million, which at the time was a record for a British footballer. Five years later, the situation is significantly different: the player has entered the final eleven months of his contract, and the club will have to decide whether to create space for him in the new project, try to sell him, send him out on loan again or risk his market value declining further as the end of his contract approaches. The final year of a contract can reduce transfer-fee demands, but Grealish's wages, health and expected status could make the operation complicated. It has not been officially confirmed how much Manchester City would demand or whether Atlético would prefer a permanent transfer, a loan or a model including an option to buy.
For Atlético, the structure of a potential deal is just as important as the sporting assessment. Signing a 30-year-old player on a lucrative contract carries a different financial risk from investing in a younger footballer with greater future resale potential. On the other hand, the final year of Grealish's contract creates room for negotiations in which City might be more willing to compromise in order to remove part of the squad costs and receive a transfer fee before the summer of 2027. Possible models such as a loan with shared wage payments, a mandatory or optional purchase and appearance-related bonuses are logical negotiating alternatives, but there is currently no confirmation that any of them have officially been put on the table. Until a concrete offer arrives, the sporting appeal of Grealish's profile remains separate from the economic feasibility of the transfer.
From a key player in a historic season to a loan spell at Everton
Grealish's time at Manchester City cannot be reduced solely to the high transfer fee and his subsequent decline in playing time. In its official announcement when he joined Everton on loan, the club stated that he had made 157 appearances and scored 17 goals during his first four seasons. He was an important member of the team that won the treble in the 2022/23 season, including the Premier League, the FA Cup and the first Champions League title in the club's history. Manchester City also state that he won three English league titles, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup with the club. His role was particularly important during the period when Pep Guardiola's team controlled matches through long spells of possession, positional discipline and security in passing, with Grealish often helping to slow the tempo, draw opposition players towards him and create space for his teammates.
However, competition in City's attack, changes to the team's structure and injury problems gradually reduced his continuity. In August 2025, Manchester City officially loaned him to Everton for the entire 2025/26 season. The start of the loan spell was very good: Everton announced that Grealish had won the Premier League Player of the Month award for August after registering four assists in his first three league matches. An official Premier League analysis later ranked him among the competition's leading creators, and during the period examined he had created 23 chances from open play, won 33 fouls and regained possession 11 times in the final third of the pitch. Those figures help explain why reports of Atlético's interest emphasise his work off the ball rather than only his technique and dribbling ability.
Foot injury interrupted his good form
The positive course of the loan spell was halted at the beginning of 2026. Everton coach David Moyes said on 30 January that Grealish had suffered a stress fracture in his foot, that he would probably require surgery and that he could therefore miss the rest of the season. Moyes stressed at the time that he was an important player and a major character in the dressing room, but refused to speak prematurely about his future after the loan expired. SunSport reports that Grealish finished the season in an Everton shirt with two goals and six assists and that the English club are considering the possibility of another loan. Everton, however, have not announced that a new agreement has been reached, so that scenario also remains in the realm of media reports for now.
His health will be one of the first topics in any serious discussion with Atlético or another interested club. A foot injury is particularly sensitive for a player whose game is based on changing direction, shielding the ball, contact with opponents and frequent bursts of acceleration in tight spaces. A return to individual or modified training is a positive sign, but interested clubs will probably require a detailed medical examination and a clear assessment of his workload before making a decision. In the event of a full recovery, Grealish could offer experience at the highest level, while any longer-term problem would increase the risk of the transfer and could affect the price, contract duration and bonuses. There is currently no official information that he has undergone a medical examination for Atlético or agreed personal terms.
Why Simeone might see value in Grealish
Grealish is not a conventional winger who relies exclusively on speed and a large number of direct runs in behind the defence. His strengths are more often displayed when he receives the ball on the left, retains it under pressure, draws two opponents towards him and creates an overload for the full-back or midfielder. He can play as a left winger, attacking midfielder or one of the players behind the striker, while his experience in Guardiola's system has given him a high level of tactical discipline in positional attacks. Simeone may be particularly interested in his ability to win fouls and calm matches down during phases in which Atlético want to protect a lead or break up opposition pressure. Official Premier League data from the first part of the 2025/26 season also show that he was effective when pressing high up the pitch, which fits SunSport's claim that he is valued in Madrid for his contribution in both directions.
There are, however, also clear questions. Atlético often seek quick transitions after regaining possession, vertical movement and a willingness from their attackers to attack space, whereas Grealish naturally prefers to slow down the move and draw contact. That does not necessarily have to be a weakness, but his role would need to be precisely defined. In some matches, he could help Atlético retain possession for longer and play out of pressure more easily, while in others more explosive players might have the advantage. SunSport estimates that he would probably have to accept a rotational role in Madrid, and such a status could be an important element in his decision. After a period without continuity, the opportunity to play regular minutes will be important to him, but his preferences are not known.
Atlético already have strong competition in attacking positions
The Madrid club have further expanded their attacking options in recent months. In February, Atlético officially signed Ademola Lookman from Atalanta and gave him a contract until 2030, describing him as a versatile player who can operate on either side and as a second striker. In July, Kang In Lee arrived from Paris Saint-Germain, signing until 2031, and he can also cover several attacking positions. The squad includes, among others, Julián Alvarez, Álex Baena, Thiago Almada and Giuliano Simeone, so the potential arrival of Grealish would increase competition in an area of the team in which Atlético already have different profiles. That is precisely why a possible transfer will depend not only on whether the coach likes the player, but also on departures, the distribution of minutes and the overall balance of the squad.
Simeone's contract with Atlético runs until 30 June 2027, the same date as Grealish's current contract with Manchester City. The Argentine coach has led the club since December 2011 and during that period has built a recognisable model in which an individual's status depends on tactical reliability and a willingness to work for the team. Grealish has experience of adapting to a highly demanding system, but moving from City's possession-dominant approach to Atlético, who more frequently alter the height of their defensive block and their attacking method depending on the opponent, would require another adjustment. His technical quality is not in doubt, but his success would depend on accepting his role and being physically ready for the intensity of the Spanish league and European matches. Atlético would, meanwhile, gain a player accustomed to the pressure of major matches.
Everton, Aston Villa and clubs outside Europe are also being mentioned
Atlético are not the only option appearing in media reports. SunSport states that Everton are considering another loan, while Aston Villa are mentioned as a possible destination for the return of a player who came through the club's academy, became captain and made 213 first-team appearances before leaving for Manchester. The same source claims that there is also interest in Saudi Arabia and the American MLS, where Grealish would have both sporting and commercial value. None of those possibilities has yet been officially confirmed through an announcement of an offer or agreement. Broader interest could nevertheless affect the negotiating dynamic because Manchester City do not have to accept the first available option, while the player can compare playing time, the level of competition, financial terms and personal priorities.
A return to Aston Villa would carry a strong emotional dimension, Everton had already given him an important role before the injury, while Atlético would offer a new league and the opportunity to compete for trophies in an environment that demands an immediate impact from experienced players. Offers from Saudi Arabia could be more financially attractive, while MLS would represent a different sporting and lifestyle project. For Grealish, the decision is broader than simply choosing a club: he must assess where he can play regularly again and restore continuity. At the age of 30, his next contract could be one of the final major agreements of his career, which is why its duration, his role and the coach's confidence will probably be just as important as the salary.
What needs to happen for the transfer to become realistic
The first concrete sign would be official contact between Atlético and Manchester City or an offer whose details were confirmed by one of the clubs. The transfer fee or loan structure, the distribution of wage payments, possible bonuses, contract length and a medical examination would then have to be resolved. At the same time, Atlético would have to define Grealish's place in the rotation, particularly following the arrivals of Lookman and Kang In Lee. Manchester City, who began a new era under coach Enzo Maresca in the summer of 2026, must decide whether Grealish is part of their plans after returning from Everton. His valid contract confirms that he remains a City player, but does not answer the question of his role during the competitive season.
As of 3 August 2026, the most accurate description of the situation is that Atlético Madrid are considering Grealish and monitoring the conditions under which a transfer could become possible, but that there is no confirmed offer or advanced negotiations. His contract until 2027, his experience of winning the biggest trophies and his statistically confirmed contribution to creativity and pressing make him an interesting profile. On the other hand, his recent injury, strong competition in Atlético's attack and potentially complicated financial terms represent serious obstacles. The next step will therefore not be another rumour, but a concrete decision by one of the clubs: whether Atlético will formalise their interest and whether Manchester City can offer terms that would make the deal acceptable to all parties.
Sources:
- SunSport – report on Atlético's interest, Simeone's assessment of the player, competition and other possible destinations (link)
- Manchester City – official announcement of Grealish's arrival in 2021 and his six-year contract (link)
- Manchester City – official announcement of his loan to Everton and his record during his first four seasons at the club (link)
- Manchester City – squad list for the 2026 Asian tour and schedule of the pre-season match against Atlético (link)
- Everton – David Moyes's statement about the foot stress fracture and a possible absence until the end of the season (link)
- Everton – official announcement of the Premier League Player of the Month award following four assists in his first three matches (link)
- Premier League – official statistical analysis of Grealish's creativity, fouls won and possessions regained in the final third (link)
- Atlético de Madrid – official confirmation of Simeone's contract until 2027 (link)
- Atlético de Madrid – official announcements of the arrivals of Ademola Lookman and Kang In Lee (Lookman; Kang In Lee)