Kalvin Phillips has endured a pretty miserable spell at Manchester City.
The midfielder completed a move to the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2022 following a great season with Leeds United, in a deal worth around £45 million.
Sadly for Kalvin Phillips, he picked up an injury fairly soon after joining, and had surgery on his shoulder in September.
But Phillips was struggling for game time anyway due to the presence of Rodri, and the following season, he went on loan to West Ham United.
That stint couldn’t really have gone much worse, and West Ham declined to sign Phillips permanently.
Then in 2024/25, Phillips was on loan at Ipswich Town.
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Phillips’ future will now come back into focus following the Tractor Boys’ relegation – and there is word on a potential next club for the 29-year-old.
Everton and others keen on Kalvin Phillips, but Leeds United return appeals
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
It would be an absolute shock if Phillips was still a City player in 2025/26.
City are currently in the middle of a rebuild after a poor season, and have signed two midfield players already this year.
Nico Gonzalez arrived in January from FC Porto, and Tijjani Reijnders will soon be officially announced as a new Man City player.
Caught Offside have reported on Phillips this morning, and there is currently a good level of interest in him.
It’s stated, though, that his old club Leeds United would be his preference.
Ipswich are keen to sign him permanently, but after their relegation, that is unlikely. Everton, Fulham and Crystal Palace are also looking to land him.
Everton, of course, are losing Abdoulaye Doucoure as a free agent, and are not re-signing Orel Mangala after his loan spell. But seemingly, they have work to do to sign Phillips from City.
It was suggested earlier this week that the feeling at City is that Phillips moving on would be best for everyone.
How much Man City could sell Kalvin Phillips for
City know they will not get anywhere near the £45 million (BBC Sport) they paid to sign Phillips from Leeds three years ago.
The club had hoped that loan spells at West Ham and Ipswich would have helped boost his market value.
But he struggled at West Ham and did not set the world alight at Portman Road either, so a big hit on the player is inevitable.
It was suggested by journalist Simon Bajkowski via Leeds Live that even £10-15 million might be seen as a risk by suitors this summer.
City are hit and miss when it comes to selling players.
The club tend to command very good fees for prospects, but can sometimes accept offers that are perhaps below true market value for established stars, although Julian Alvarez last summer was an exception.