Manchester City have announced their third signing of the summer, with Kalvin Phillips joining Erling Haaland and Stefan Ortega, as Pep Guardiola continues to refresh his first-team squad.
The Sky Blues, who won their fourth Premier League title in five years with a dramatic 3-2 victory against Aston Villa in May, will soon begin preparations for a hat-trick of titles, as English teams continue to strengthen ahead of the new campaign.
Guardiola’s latest addition is versatile midfielder Kalvin Phillips, with the England international departing his boyhood club Leeds United for the Etihad Stadium.
The 26-year-old made over 200 appearances for the Yorkshire club, and played a pivotal role in the Whites’ return to the Premier League and impressive maiden campaign in the top-flight under Marcelo Bielsa.
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Injury restricted Phillips to just 20 Premier League appearances last season, though the England midfielder has now penned a mammoth six-year deal with the domestic champions.
Phillips is the latest player attracted to the Blues because of manager Pep Guardiola, and the Yorkshireman has revealed that the City manager, a desire to improve and a hunger to play in big games were all factors behind his decision.
Speaking with CityTV, Phillips said: “I think over the past few years at Leeds, I've done really well.
"Obviously, I got into the England squad as well and done really well there and I’m very appreciative of what I’ve done at Leeds and everyone I’ve been around.
"I just want to test myself on the next step with players who have an unbelievable work ethic and an unbelievable manager as well.
"The quality of the players City have got, the way that they play and the way that they pass the ball around is an unbelievable style of play.
"It’s something I’ve always been attracted to.”
The 26-year-old, who has 23 senior caps for England, was involved in the Three Lions’ European Championship campaign last year.
Having featured in the 2021 Euro final defeat to Italy at Wembley, Phillips has also suggested that the occasion impacted his decision to become the latest member of Southgate’s squad to move over the Pennines.
“I deal very well with situations like that, I think I’m pretty suited to playing big games," said Phillips.
"I’ve not experienced many of them but hopefully this season I will.
“It’s one of the main reasons I wanted to come to Manchester City, to improve my game in loads of different ways.
"It’s hard for me to say right now how I’m going to play a role in the team because it’s very difficult to come into a team of eighteen superstars.”
Topics: Manchester City, Kalvin Phillips, Leeds United, Premier League
Harry Winters