Kalvin Phillips Man City news highlights one of the most surprising downturns of Pep Guardiola’s era. Signed for £42m from Leeds United in 2022, the midfielder was hailed as a major addition to City’s squad. Sporting director Txiki Begiristain called him a “formidable talent”, while Guardiola said he was “delighted” to bring in a player shaped by Marcelo Bielsa’s intense pressing system.
Three years later, Phillips is an afterthought at the Etihad. He has played just 31 games, with only six starts, and has not featured competitively since 2023. Loans to West Ham and Ipswich Town followed, but a permanent exit never materialised this summer.
Guardiola’s Apology and Reluctance
Phillips’ City career was troubled from the outset. Shoulder surgery delayed his debut, and when he returned from the 2022 World Cup, Guardiola publicly branded him “overweight.”
“When he will be ready, he will play. We need him. We need him a lot,” Guardiola initially insisted. But as appearances dwindled, even Pep had to admit his struggles to see a role for the England international.
“I visualise the team and things, I struggle a little bit to see him, that’s all. It’s not because I am not pleased. I feel so sorry for him,” Guardiola said in 2023.
Later, after Phillips admitted the “overweight” comments had affected him, Guardiola publicly apologised: “I’m sorry. I do apologise to him. I’m so sorry.”
Statistics Paint a Brutal Picture
| Kalvin Phillips at Man City | Stats |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 31 |
| Starts | 6 |
| Substitute appearances | 25 |
| Unused substitute | 45 |
| Total minutes played | 914 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 0 |
source: Transfermarkt – 5 September 2025
Phillips has completed fewer than 1,000 minutes for City in three years, a remarkable statistic for a £42m England international.
No Way Back Under Guardiola
Guardiola has now handed Phillips’ squad number to Tijjani Reijnders, signalling the end of his involvement. Last summer, he even trialled him as a centre-back in pre-season before sending him out on loan. The verdict is clear: Phillips does not fit City’s system.
“Kalvin likes to see all the game in front of him. When he is in the middle surrounded by players he struggles a little bit,” Guardiola once said — an unforgiving assessment from a manager obsessed with control.
Analyst Verdict
FootballPlace analyst John William believes Phillips is City’s forgotten man:
“Phillips was brought in to add depth behind Rodri, but Guardiola never trusted him in the pivot role. Injuries, fitness doubts and stylistic mismatches meant he was finished at City almost before he started.”
He adds:
“Loans to West Ham and Ipswich showed he can still play at Premier League level, but with Guardiola giving away his shirt number, it’s effectively over. The earliest he’ll see first-team action again is 2026, and only if he finds a permanent move.”
Key Insights
- Phillips signed for £42m from Leeds in 2022.
- Made just 31 appearances (914 minutes) for City.
- Loan spells at West Ham and Ipswich offered little revival.
- Guardiola apologised after “overweight” remark but never trusted him.
- Squad number now given to Tijjani Reijnders.
What’s Next for Phillips?
Phillips still has three years left on his six-year Etihad deal but appears destined for another move in January 2026. With no role under Guardiola, he needs a permanent transfer to revive his career — and England ambitions.
For City, the £42m outlay will go down as a rare transfer misstep in an era defined by near-flawless recruitment.
👉 Do you think Kalvin Phillips can revive his career away from Manchester City — or has Guardiola’s system exposed his limits?
1 Comment (last comment by Adem)
First read message
By Adem 6 Sep 2025 08:23
He's not moving anywhere... he's getting that weekly wage where every person on this earth would fight for.
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