Kalvin Philips of Leeds United has been officially signed by Manchester City on a six-year deal worth £45 Million.
The Premier League winners and the 26-year-old England international agreed to the deal after a series of back and forth between Leeds United and the Premier League champions.
He joins Stefan Ortega Moreno and Erling Haaland as Pep Guardiola’s third summer additions.
“I couldn’t be happier to have joined Manchester City. City has once again shown why they are the best team in the nation”, Phillips said.
Before he joined City, Phillips still had two years on his Leeds contract after making 235 appearances over the course of eight seasons at Elland Road.
He claimed that Pep Guardiola, the manager of City, has a “great squad and is rightfully regarded as the best in the world.”
“I am really delighted about the idea of being able to play under Pep and learn from him and his coaching team as well as be part of such a magnificent group,” he continued.
Before playing in every match in the postponed Euro 2020 tournament, Phillips made his international debut in September 2020 and was named the men’s Player of the Year for England in 2020–21.
He only made 20 league games last season due to a lengthy period of injury to his hamstring.
Txiki Begiristain, City’s director of football, said: “His reading of the game, coupled with his passing skills, energy, and desire, make him a fearsome talent, and he is a player who has a wonderful will to win.
“We believe he will be an excellent addition to our team and that he will perfectly complement our style of play.”
Kalvin Philips shared an emotional farewell message to Leeds fans
Following the announcement of his leaving, Phillips addressed an open letter to the Leeds community in which he praised his former boss Bielsa in particular.
“I cannot mention Leeds without mentioning one special person – Marcelo,” Phillips wrote. “The greatest boss I’ve ever worked under. He is the one who gave the club vitality. He inspired the players and everyone else associated with the club to believe we were capable of making our 16-year absence from the Premier League worthwhile.
“You gave the club everything, but you also gave me everything I needed to develop into the person I am today, both on and off the field.”
He also praised Jesse Marsch, the new manager, calling him an “even greater person” and an “unbelievable boss.”
“As a young kid I had so many ambitions and still do… but playing for you was the one I will never forget,” Phillips said, adding that he hoped his choice to leave will be appreciated by the supporters as being made in order to “follow his dreams”.
Phillips compared to other DM’s in the EPL
Kalvin Phillips | Rodri | Declan Rice | Fabinho | N’Golo Kante | Wilfred Ndidi | Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg | |
| Appearances | 20 | 33 | 36 | 29 | 26 | 19 | 36 |
| Minutes played | 1595 | 2887 | 3178 | 2316 | 1778 | 1619 | 3198 |
| Goals | 0 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Assists | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Tackles | 54 | 72 | 80 | 46 | 59 | 60 | 78 |
| Tackles per 90 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 2.2 |
| Passing accuracy | 82.0 | 91.8 | 91.6 | 87.5 | 82.0 | 80.2 | 89.7 |
| Yellow cards | 4 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Honours
Leeds
- United EFL Championship: 2019–20
England
- UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2020
Individual
- EFL Young Player of the Month: October 2016
- EFL Championship Team of the Year: 2018–19
- PFA Team of the Year: 2019–20 Championship
- England Men’s Player of the Year: 2020–21
