Manchester City are set to bring a player who hasn’t featured competitively for Pep Guardiola’s side since 2023 back into the fold, according to a report.
Although the Citizens have had a busy summer on the transfer front, they failed to strengthen in all the necessary positions.
For instance, Manchester City could have done with a new right-back, some more cover at centre-back, and someone else at No. 6.
Now, Pep Guardiola may have just decided to look at his forgotten players and bring one back into the picture to tick some of the above boxes.
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Kalvin Phillips collects a medal after the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 final match between Manchester City and Fluminense.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Kalvin Phillips set to be named in Manchester City’s Premier League squad
The player in question is Kalvin Phillips, who has not played competitively for Man City since 2023.
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Phillips is set to be named in Man City’s 25-man Premier League squad for this season, according to Mike McGrath of The Telegraph.
The report notes how Phillips has not played competitively for City since the Club World Cup at the end of 2023.
Phillips ended up going out on loan to West Ham in the second half of 2023/24 before spending the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Ipswich Town.
Kalvin Phillips set to be named in Manchester City's 25-man Premier League squad later today. The 29yo could be given chance under Pep Guardiola this campaign after his loan away from Etihad Stadium last season at Ipswich Town
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— Mike McGrath (@mcgrathmike) September 12, 2025
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The last time Kalvin Phillips played competitively for Manchester City
Phillips joined City in a £45million move from Leeds United three years ago after his heroics for Marcelo Bielsa’s side at Elland Road.
The defensive midfielder also played a big part in England’s run to the Euro 2020 final.
However, Phillips only made 31 appearances for City, and fell completely out of the picture at the start of 2024.
The last competitive appearance he made for the Citizens was on 19 December 2023, when he played against Urawa Reds in the Club World Cup.
It has been 633 days since Phillips featured competitively for Guardiola, but now it looks as though he has been given one last chance to resurrect his City career.