Phillips joins Sheffield United on loan - can he revive career?
Kalvin Phillips has played only seven minutes for Manchester City this season
- Published
Sheffield United have signed Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips on loan for the remainder of the season.
The former England international, 30, has fallen out of favour at Etihad Stadium and cleared to join the Championship club for the rest of the 2025-26 campaign.
Phillips' one and only appearance for City this season came in the final seven minutes their Carabao Cup win against Huddersfield in September.
He joined Pep Guardiola's side from boyhood club Leeds United on a six-year contract in 2022 in a deal worth £45m.
Phillios, who has 31 caps for his country, has previously been loaned out to Ipswich Town and West Ham.
In December 2022, Guardiola slammed the midfielder for returning from the World Cup "overweight" and "not in the right condition to train".
Phillips has made 32 appearances for Manchester City and was part of the side that won a historic Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup Treble in 2023.
Chance to get career back on track - analysis
Phillips' trajectory has stalled since joining City from Leeds for £45m in 2022 and he is looking to reignite his career once again.
He has played just seven minutes of football this season, back in September in the Carabao Cup at Huddersfield, and this would be his third loan move after spells at West Ham and Ipswich.
Still only 30, Phillips was a key part of the England squad that reached the final of the 2020 European Championship, where they were beaten on penalties by Italy.
He was named England men's player of the year in 2021, but won the last of his international caps three years ago.
Phillips has been training with the other City players, but clearly surplus to requirements for a long time now, and still has two-and-a-half years left to run on his contract.
In February 2024, City boss Guardiola apologised for saying Phillips was "overweight" on his return from the Qatar World Cup, with the player later saying the comments were "a big knock to my confidence".
The writing was on the wall and Phillips has not had a look-in at City this season, despite injuries to midfielders Rodri and Nico Gonzalez.
He will be hoping his move to the Blades - 17th in the Championship table - can help get his career back on track.
How did Phillips fall out of favour at Man City?
June 2021: Following an impressive debut season in the Premier League, Phillips is named in England's squad for Euro 2020.
September 2021: Starts all seven games at the Euros and is later named England's Player of the Year for 2021.
July 2022: The England international leaves boyhood club Leeds United to join Manchester City on a six-year contract in a deal worth £45m.
September 2022: Phillips' first few months at the Etihad are hampered by a shoulder injury - sidelining him for two months.
November 2022: Named in England's 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
December 2022: After Phillips returns from the World Cup in Qatar, Pep Guardiola says the midfielder was "overweight" and "not in the condition" to train or play.
January 2023: Six months after signing for City, Phillips makes his first start for the club in a 2-0 defeat by Southampton in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
June 2023: Finishes his first season at the club as a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup Treble winner despite playing less than 600 minutes.
January 2024: Phillips joins West Ham on a six-month loan deal.
February 2024: Guardiola issues an apology to the midfielder for comments about his weight in December 2022.
March 2024: Phillips is caught on camera swearing at West Ham supporters after conceding a penalty in a 4-3 defeat by Newcastle United.
August 2024: Joins newly promoted Ipswich Town on a season-long loan.
May 2025: Ipswich and Phillips are relegated to the Championship.
September 2025: Plays for Manchester City for the first time in 645 days in a Carabao Cup tie at Huddersfield Town.
January 2026: Joins Championship club Sheffield United on loan.
- Published12 April 2024
