Manchester City has made headlines ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 by omitting two big names—Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker—from their 27-man squad, despite having room for 35 players. The move raises serious questions about the future of both England internationals at the Etihad.
🚫 Grealish Omission: A £100M Enigma
Grealish, still City’s record signing after a £100 million transfer from Aston Villa in 2021, made just seven Premier League starts during the 2024/25 season. Despite being fit, he was benched during the club’s 1-0 FA Cup Final loss to Crystal Palace and hasn’t featured prominently in Pep Guardiola’s plans Jack Grealish.
The winger’s £300,000-a-week wage presents a significant challenge for clubs interested in acquiring him. With two years left on his contract and a drop in form, Grealish’s future at the club appears increasingly uncertain.
📉 Kyle Walker: End of an Era?
35-year-old Kyle Walker, once the heartbeat of City’s defense, also misses out. He spent the second half of the season on loan at AC Milan, but the Italian club chose not to exercise their purchase option.
Guardiola’s decision not to reintegrate Walker suggests a strong likelihood of a summer exit. With younger full-backs and new tactical systems, Walker may no longer fit the evolving style of the squad Jack Grealish.
🆕 Who Made the Cut?
Despite the omissions, four new signings have been included:
- Rayan Ait-Nouri – dynamic left-back
- Rayan Cherki – creative midfielder from Lyon
- Tijani Reijnders – midfield engine from Milan
- Marcus Bettinelli – experienced backup goalkeeper
City fans will also be relieved to see Ballon d’Or winner Rodri back in the mix after recovering from a long-term knee injury. His presence is expected to stabilize the midfield, which suffered in his absence late in the season.
⚔️ Club World Cup Schedule: City’s Group Fixtures
- June 18: vs Wydad Casablanca (Philadelphia)
- June 23: vs Al Ain (Las Vegas)
- June 28: vs Juventus (Atlanta)
The tournament will be a proving ground for new tactics and team chemistry as Guardiola tries to turn the page after narrowly missing out on domestic and European trophies in 2025.
🔥 Guardiola’s Squad Warning
Last month, Pep Guardiola publicly declared he might consider leaving unless the squad was trimmed to a manageable size. The exclusions of Grealish and Walker appear to be early signs of this restructuring process.
“The squad is too large,” Pep said in May. “We need clarity and commitment from every player.”
💼 Transfer Watch: What’s Next?
With the transfer window heating up, insiders suggest City are already fielding inquiries for Grealish, but his high wage is proving to be a deterrent. Walker, now in the twilight of his career, may attract interest from MLS or the Saudi Pro League, where veteran players are in demand.
📰 Related Posts
As Manchester City kicks off their Club World Cup journey, all eyes will be on how Guardiola’s reshaped squad performs—and what the future holds for stars now on the outside looking in.
