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While Kalvin Phillips’ financial situation may be “looking well”, his fellow Leeds United academy product Matt Kilgallon has explained to GOAL why the Manchester City midfielder could soon find himself in a situation where “nobody wants you”. The former England international appears stuck in a difficult phase of his career, with a crucial decision needed this summer to revive his fortunes.

Phillips made the move from Leeds United to Manchester City in a £42 million transfer. Back in 2022, life looked bright for him — having impressed in the Premier League with his boyhood club at Elland Road and established himself as a key part of Gareth Southgate’s England side, even starting in the Euro 2021 final.

The £42 million ($56m) move took him away from Leeds and across the Pennines to Manchester, where he joined a City squad that went on to claim a historic Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League Treble in his debut season. However, Phillips struggled to convince Pep Guardiola of his value and saw limited playing time.

Loan spells at West Ham United and Ipswich Town kept him in the Premier League, but he continued to regress individually. By the 2025-26 campaign, he found himself back in the Championship with Sheffield United.

Phillips managed only four appearances for the Blades and received a red card during his final outing on February 22. Further fitness problems kept the 30-year-old sidelined, leading to growing uncertainty about what lies ahead for him.

When asked about Phillips’ situation following the troubled loan spell, Kilgallon, speaking exclusively to GOAL, said: “It's not easy. He's still a player, isn't he? You don't lose your quality, but you do lose your legs. His game was about getting around people. He had quality on the ball, but his main role was winning it back and keeping play moving.”

He added: “That move to Manchester City from Leeds United — yes, great for the trophy cabinet, absolutely brilliant. You don’t win many trophies in your career. But was he really part of them? He came on occasionally. I’m sure his bank balance is looking good, and I bet he enjoys seeing that. But when he retires, he might ask himself if it was the right move. There were other clubs where he could have played every match and remained a key man.”

Kilgallon continued: “At Sheffield United, I watched a few games. I know he’d been out for a long time and it’s not easy to come back and be the same player you were four or five years ago, but he looked a bit sluggish, a little slow to get around.”

“He’s only 30 — that’s not old anymore. Players go on until 35. But he needs to knuckle down and hope his injuries clear up. The biggest shock for him will be the difference in wages. He won’t be earning what he did for the last five or six years because clubs are taking a chance on him now, especially Sheffield United. You can see that Chris Wilder likes him.”

Phillips still has two years remaining on his Manchester City contract, running until 2028. When told about this, Kilgallon reacted: “Has he still got two years left? Oh my God, I thought he was done there!”

He explained: “It’s all up to Manchester City. It depends on how much of his wages they’ll cover because he’s on £150,000 a week. Usually, Sheffield United or another club would pay half, maybe a bit more, but they can’t afford that. City would probably have to pay 80% of his wages, leaving around £20,000 to £25,000 a week for the other club.”

“It’s a tough one for him. He’s probably got to sit down with City and say, ‘please, what can we do? Let me go out and play football again’. No matter how much you earn, it’s no fun if you’re not playing. You want to be fit and on the pitch. He needs to come to an agreement with City and get back playing, because before you know it, you’re 33 or 34, and then nobody wants you.”

As for a return to Leeds United, that dream appears to have faded. Kilgallon said of the move once rumoured a couple of years ago: “Yeah, that would’ve been great, wouldn’t it? Three years ago, everyone thought it might happen. He was loved there.”

“But you look at Leeds United’s midfield now — Anton Stach, Ethan Ampadu, Sean Longstaff — it’s full of quality. They’re strong in that area. If he went back, sure, his experience would be valuable around the dressing room, but he wouldn’t play much.”

Reports suggest Sheffield United, under Wilder’s management, could explore another loan deal for Phillips to help him regain form and fitness in South Yorkshire while boosting their promotion hopes for the 2026-27 Premier League campaign. However, with just 46 appearances across the last three seasons and his England career stalling, Phillips may find it increasingly difficult to attract suitors — and might soon question whether that big-money move to Manchester City was truly the right call.