When a professional footballer moves from their childhood or youth club to a club like Manchester City, the fuss that comes with it can be intimidating.

There's no need to worry about that at Jack Grealish.

On the contrary: The £ 100 million transfer fee (118 million euros) that City transfers to Aston Villa for him and which makes him the most expensive purchase in the history of the Premier League, apparently does not burden the 25-year-old at all, it inspires him. “It means a lot to me that the club was willing to spend so much money on me,” said Grealish at his official launch on Monday. “If anything, it gives me confidence. I don't think there is any particular pressure associated with the price. "

The change had been announced;

City made no big secret of his interest in Villa's playmaker, who finished second in the European Championship with England's national team that summer.

Grealish received a six-year contract with the champions and the shirt with the number “ten” on the back, which belonged to fan favorite Sergio Agüero until he left after last season.

"A very positive conversation"

It was difficult for him to leave Aston Villa, Grealish said, there were also tears, but he could not refuse City's offer - also to fulfill his dream of playing in the Champions League against the best teams in Europe. After a detailed conversation with City's trainer Pep Guardiola, there was no longer any doubt for him: “It was about positions and things like that. It was a very positive conversation that showed me why I really want to play under him. "

Last season Grealish played for Aston Villa mostly as a left winger, but also often in the central attacking midfield.

That is where he feels most comfortable: “I love the number ten role,” he said before the European Championship.

He is more of a preparer than an executor, last season he scored six goals in 26 appearances and prepared twelve;

between late February and early May he was absent due to a shin injury.

He has a good overview, is technically strong even with what is actually a weaker left foot, is not afraid of dribbling and has an explosive start.

Guardiola is likely to rely primarily on his unpredictability - especially against defensive opponents, when it takes a moment of individual brilliance to undo the defensive bulwark.

In addition, no player in the Premier League has been fouled as often as Grealish in the past two seasons, which is why free kicks in dangerous positions should be a welcome effect of his signing.

On average, he was fouled about every 20 minutes, with critics accusing him of falling too easily at times.

"I take the kicks as a compliment," Grealish once said of the fouls.

That brings his way of playing with it.

The star at Aston Villa

What role he will play in City's world-class ensemble when the team starts the new season on Sunday against Tottenham Hotspur remains to be seen. The competition is stiff - he competes with Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden for position on the left wing alone - and Guardiola will not only promote him to the starting XI because of his price. Last Saturday, Manchester City lost 1-0 to cup winners Leicester City in the Community Shield, Grealish came off the bench after just over an hour and remained largely unremarkable.

At Aston Villa he was the star, everything revolved around him, at City he is one of many and may have to be patient.

Like at the EM, when he was not a regular under national coach Gareth Southgate despite his enormous popularity with the fans.

Southgate apparently trusted other players with more tactical and defensive discipline.

The Guardian wrote in an analysis of the transfer: "If a player is not disciplined enough for Southgate, can he meet Guardiola's claims?" Linked to this is the question of whether Grealish is worth his money.

Especially since he will be 26 years old in September and has never played in European Cup.

It is said that Guardiola sees him as an eighth player who acts in the center of midfield - together with Kevin De Bruyne, who is said to have advised Guardiola to bring Grealish to Manchester after Belgium's international match against England in November.

City's sporting director Txiki Begiristain was quoted on the club website about Grealish's signing and described him as one of the most exciting attacking players in world football: "Pep loves the way he plays and we all believe he is a perfect fit for Manchester City."

Final defeat against Chelsea

The club goes into the season as the favorite to win the title, and City has won three championships in the past four years. But the club, which is so financially financed from Abu Dhabi, has so far struggled to win the Champions League. In May they reached the final for the first time, but were subject to Chelsea. It should work better the next time it tries - and Grealish could play a key role in this. The BBC wrote: "The only ones to worry about this move are City's rivals."