Jack Grealish’s record-breaking move away from boyhood club Aston Villa has struck a chord with local Leicester City hero Gary Lineker.

The 25-year-old England star completed his switch from Villa Park to Manchester City yesterday after a long summer of agonising over whether to leave his beloved hometown team.

It’s a move that certainly resonates with Match of the Day presenter Lineker who rose up the ranks at Filbert Street to be adored by Foxes fans for his 95 goals in 194 league appearances.

Champions Everton then came calling in 1985 and signed the son of a city market stall holder for £800,000, going on to bag 40 top flight goals in 57 games in his first season at Goodison Park.

Lineker’s experience in making such a big career decision means he can fully empathise with Grealish, who took to social media yesterday to issue a heart-felt message.

“I’ve been at Aston Villa for 19 years and I’ve been a fan my whole life,” he said.

“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 & I hope you understand my reasons for seeking a new challenge.”

Lineker then took to social media himself to tweet: “I know how hard it is to leave the club that you’ve supported since you were a small boy.

“The club that you dreamt of playing for. The club that you love.

“It’s brutal, but you get one football career and sometimes your head has to rule your heart.

“Good luck, Jack.”