Jack Grealish to stay with England as Lee Carsley takes up Republic of Ireland role
Manchester City forward Jack Grealish has confirmed he will remain with the England national team despite speculation linking him with a switch to the Republic of Ireland.
The 27-year-old, who was born in Birmingham to Irish parents, has represented England at senior level since 2020, winning 24 caps and scoring one goal.
However, with his father being born in Dublin and Grealish qualifying for Ireland through his grandparents, there had been suggestions he could make the switch to the Boys in Green.
Those rumors intensified when Lee Carsley, Grealish's former Aston Villa teammate, was appointed manager of the Republic of Ireland in February 2022.
Grealish has now put an end to the speculation by confirming his commitment to England.
"I'm very proud to play for England," Grealish told Sky Sports. "I've always said that I want to play for England and I've never said anything different.
"I'm grateful to Ireland for giving me the opportunity to play for them, but I've always wanted to play for England."
Grealish's decision is a blow to Carsley, who had hoped to persuade the forward to switch allegiances.
However, the Republic of Ireland manager remains confident that he can build a strong team without Grealish.
"I understand Jack's decision," Carsley said. "He's a great player and I wish him all the best with England.
"But I'm also confident that we have a lot of talented players in Ireland and I'm looking forward to working with them."
Grealish is expected to be part of England's squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Hungary, Germany, and Italy.
The Three Lions will also be hoping to qualify for the 2024 European Championship, which will be held in Germany.
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