Sadly for Kalvin Phillips, his once-promising career has turned into a series of disappointments over the past few years. Things have now hit a new low after he was sent off for Sheffield United against rivals Sheffield Wednesday.
The midfielder impressed so much at Leeds United that he managed to establish himself as a key cog for England at international level, and then secured a £42m move to Manchester City in July 2022. It's been downhill ever since. Indeed, the Guardian even characterised the player's move from Leeds to the Etihad as "one of the worst, most ruinous ever made."
He failed to ever truly convince Pep Guardiola and has since been loaned out to West Ham United and Ipswich Town, struggling to impress at either club. In February 2026, he was then sent to Sheffield United for the rest of the season, but things have not started well.
In just his third appearance for the Championship club, he picked up a direct red card in the derby vs Sheffield Wednesday. Phillips's team were cruising by two goals, but not long into the second half, the Englishman put in a 'shocking challenge' on Svante Ingelsson.
To make things worse, Charlie McNeill then scored for Wednesday just four minutes later. One fan summed up the bleak mood, noting: "It’s actually dark for Kalvin Phillips."
More to follow...