Jack Grealish has sent a message to Aston Villa fans after completing his transfer to Man City.
It will be an emotional departure for the boyhood Villa fan, who joined the club as a six-year-old and came through the club's academy.
The temptation of Champions League football was too much for the 25-year-old though as he left his boyhood club for a British record £100m transfer fee.
After the news of his transfer, Grealish posted a message on his Twitter account with a heart emoji.
Grealish said: "I’ve been at Aston Villa for 19 years and I’ve been a fan my whole life. I’ve come up through the ranks and captained my club back to the top tier of English football. It’s impossible to put my feelings into words, but I’ll try.
"When I first came to Villa I had my own personal dreams and ambitions like getting into the first team, scoring my first goal & scoring the winner in a derby. It wasn’t until we got relegated that I felt a greater sense of purpose.
"Every time I put on the Villa shirt I played with my heart on my sleeve, being given the armband was both a privilege and an honour for me and my family and I’ve loved every minute of it.
"I want to thank the manager and my teammates, I’ll never forget everything we achieved together... and to the fans who have supported me through everything, I can’t thank you enough.
"To all my coaches and all the people who work at the club behind the scenes who have done so much for me over the years - thank you.
"I’ll always be a Villa fan — I love this club with all my heart and I hope you understand my reasons for seeking a new challenge.
The club are in great hands, the manager, the lads, the new signings coming in — it’s an exciting time to be a Villa fan. I’ll see you all again soon. Until next time. UTV (Up the Villa). Jack."
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