Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips will get a chance to play some football in the second half of this season
Kalvin Phillips has completed a deadline day move to Sheffield United for the remainder of the 2025/26 season. The former Leeds midfielder will head to South Yorkshire hoping to kickstart his career again in the Championship after a nightmare move to Manchester City.
Phillips was signed for £45m by the Blues back in 2022 with the intention of supporting Rodri and strengthening a midfield that had just won the last two Premier League titles. However, illness and injury saw Phillips off to a bad start and he was then criticised by Pep Guardiola for returning from a break after the World Cup ‘overweight’ in December 2022.
That further reduced his opportunities, and while he chose to stay and fight for his place the following season by January 2024 he was agreeing a loan move to West Ham. When they chose not to make the move permanent, Premier League newcomers Ipswich came in with a season-long loan.
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Phillips underwent Achilles surgery in summer that stopped him from getting a move, and he was asked to play for City at Huddersfield in the Carabao Cup the day after his daughter was born. That game in September is the only time he has made a matchday squad this season and he will be hoping to change that quickly at Sheffield United.
Chris Wilder took over at Bramall Lane again in September after a disastrous spell in charge from Ruben Selles left the Blades in trouble at the wrong end of the Championship table. Their form has improved since and they currently sit in 17th place, seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Phillips is under contract at City until the summer of 2028, having signed a six-year deal when he joined. With no option to buy for Sheffield United in the loan deal, the 30-year-old will return to the Etihad at the end of the current season.