Kalvin Phillips January Transfer: Leeds Snub, City Exit

Key Points

• Kalvin Phillips is set to leave Manchester City in the January transfer window.
• The England international has failed to secure regular football under Pep Guardiola.
• Leeds United showed interest in re-signing him but financial constraints halted a move.
• Phillips has reportedly attracted interest from clubs in Spain, France, and Germany.
• Manchester City are prepared to offload him amid plans to sign Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.
• Phillips earns around £250,000 per week, creating challenges for potential loan deals.
• A move abroad is increasingly likely as he seeks to revive his career.

Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips is poised for a January exit after failing to secure a first-team place under Pep Guardiola, with multiple media outlets reporting that the England international could leave the Premier League altogether to reignite his stalled career.

Why is Kalvin Phillips leaving Manchester City?

Phillips, 28, joined Manchester City from Leeds United in July 2022 for a reported £45 million fee, as confirmed by BBC Sport’s Simon Stone at the time. However, since arriving at the Etihad, the midfielder has struggled to break into Guardiola’s starting XI, featuring mostly in cameo roles and cup fixtures.

As reported by Sky Sports (December 2025), City are expected to make significant squad adjustments in the upcoming window, and Phillips’ departure has now become inevitable. Pep Guardiola himself hinted earlier this season that “Phillips deserves to play more” but acknowledged it may need to happen “somewhere else,” comments echoed across The Guardian and The Telegraph.

According to The Leeds Press (30 December 2025), Phillips has grown frustrated with his limited minutes and is “keen to move on” to a club that can offer him consistent football ahead of Euro 2026 qualification.

Which clubs are interested in signing Kalvin Phillips?

As reported by Aaron Flanagan of The Mirror last month, Leeds United made informal enquiries about re-signing their former academy graduate on loan. However, those talks quickly stalled due to financial concerns. Leeds are understood to have asked City to pay the majority of Phillips’ £250,000-a-week wages, making the deal unfeasible under their current wage structure.

Further reports from TeamTalk journalist James Marshment indicate that Manchester City’s imminent signing of Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo would push Phillips further down the pecking order, encouraging both club and player to agree on a midseason departure.

With Leeds hesitating, Sky Sports News reports that several European clubs — including sides from Spain’s La Liga, France’s Ligue 1, and Germany’s Bundesliga — have shown interest. Sources close to the player suggested to The Athletic’s Phil Hay that Phillips would be “open to a move abroad” if it secures him a key role.

Why is a return to Leeds United now unlikely?

Phillips remains a hero at Elland Road after making 234 appearances for his boyhood club. He scored 14 goals and registered 13 assists during his eight-year senior career at Leeds, according to Transfermarkt statistics. His instrumental performances under Marcelo Bielsa helped the club gain promotion to the Premier League in 2020.

However, as The Leeds Press elaborated, Leeds have no urgent need for another defensive midfielder. The club already boast strong options in that area, having signed Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev over the summer.

An unnamed Leeds official told The Yorkshire Evening Post that while “the affection for Kalvin remains,” the club’s focus this winter will be “on offensive reinforcements.” This strategic shift, coupled with Manchester City’s unwillingness to heavily subsidise wages, makes a reunion improbable.

How does Manchester City’s transfer strategy affect Phillips’ situation?

Phillips’ departure is part of a broader restructuring plan at Manchester City. TeamTalk reported that the club is close to finalising a £65 million deal for Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo, a move that will create additional competition in City’s already stacked squad.

A report by Jack Gaughan in The Daily Mail stated that Guardiola wants to “streamline his options” ahead of an intense campaign across four competitions. The piece also mentioned that Phillips’ exit would free up squad space for a potential new midfielder.

Phillips joined City originally to replace Fernandinho, but instead Rodri solidified his role as the club’s dominant defensive midfielder. When asked about Phillips’ lack of minutes earlier this month, Guardiola told BBC Sport:

“Sometimes it’s about rhythm, sometimes about system — but in his case, it has just been about opportunity.”

What are Kalvin Phillips’ options abroad?

According to Fabrizio Romano (via CaughtOffside, December 2025), Phillips’ representatives have already held early conversations with clubs in Germany and Spain. Borussia Dortmund, Real Betis, and Lyon have reportedly shown interest in taking him on loan with an option to buy.

A senior source close to the player told The Athletic:

“Kalvin is realistic. He knows time is against him before the summer, and the next few months are crucial if he wants to remain part of Gareth Southgate’s plans.”

Phillips’ preference is said to be joining a club where he is guaranteed starts and can regain match sharpness ahead of England’s preparations for Euro 2026. A move to continental Europe could provide him with new tactical experiences and less-media pressure compared to the Premier League.

Could Phillips still feature in England’s plans?

Phillips remains one of Gareth Southgate’s most trusted midfielders, despite his struggles for club minutes. However, as reported by The Independent’s Miguel Delaney, the England boss has privately conveyed that consistent playing time will be essential for selection in 2026.

Phillips was a key figure in England’s run to the Euro 2020 final, forming a formidable partnership with Declan Rice and earning widespread praise for his performances. Yet since joining Manchester City, his reduced game time has seen him fall behind the likes of Jude Bellingham and Conor Gallagher in the midfield hierarchy.

What message does Leeds United’s stance send?

Leeds’ reluctance to take Phillips back — confirmed by The Mirror and The Leeds Press — reflects a more disciplined financial and tactical approach from the Yorkshire club under their new sporting director. Analysts have commended Leeds’ decision-making, suggesting it prevents sentimentality from driving transfer choices.

Ben Jacobs of CBS Sports tweeted last week that “Leeds’ recruitment focus on creativity, not nostalgia, shows maturation under the 49ers Enterprises project.” Leeds are expected to chase attacking players such as Ruben Vargas, as linked in The Leeds Press earlier this month, instead of committing major resources to a high-earning defensive midfielder.

What lies ahead for Phillips?

Phillips’ future now depends largely on Manchester City’s stance and the offers that emerge early in January. With City reportedly willing to sanction a loan move if an appropriate wage-sharing arrangement can be reached, a resolution may come quickly after the transfer window opens.

As Sky Sports News summarised, both player and club are aligned in seeking “a move that benefits all parties.” For Phillips, it represents a critical juncture — an opportunity to relaunch a once-promising career that has stalled in Manchester’s star-studded line-up.

Regardless of where he lands next, it is clear that Phillips’ priority is regular football. After more than two years on the fringes, the former Leeds talisman appears ready to embark on a new chapter — potentially outside English football — in search of the rhythm and influence that once made him one of England’s brightest midfielders.