Manchester City hold exit stance on first-team star amid Rodri fitness woes

Kalvin Phillips is likely to leave Manchester City on a permanent basis next summer instead of the 2026 January transfer window, as per a new report.

Phillips is surplus to requirements at the Etihad Stadium and eyebrows were raised when the 29-year-old did not complete an exit from Manchester City in the summer transfer window off the back of a season-long loan at Ipswich Town.

The England international joined Manchester City from Leeds United in the backdrop of an eye-catching season at Elland Road, with officials at the Etihad Stadium signing Phillips to mitigate the loss of long-serving defensive midfielder Fernandinho.

However, things haven’t gone to plan for the Yorkshire star in Manchester and three years into Phillips’ £45 million move to City , he is right at the bottom of Pep Guardiola’s pecking order having stayed put at the Etihad Stadium into the 2025-26 season.

Phillips had been dealing with an Achilles injury over the summer that raised concerns over prospects in the market for the Leeds-born midfielder – who has three years remaining on his contract at Manchester City – and ultimately prevented a transfer from materialising.

Guardiola has called upon Phillips to return to full fitness and help Manchester City mount a challenge on all fronts after the Blues endured their most challenging season in a decade last term – finishing third in the Premier League with 71 points, exiting the UEFA Champions League at the Round of 16 stage and losing the 2025 FA Cup final.

Phillips came off the bench after 82 minutes in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Huddersfield in the Carabao Cup third-round in September, making his first appearance for the Blues in nearly a year-and-a-half.

After struggling with injuries in his first season at City , Phillips was heavily linked with a departure from the Etihad Stadium but sources close to the Leeds United academy graduate told City Xtra that Phillips was set to stay and fight for his place under Guardiola.

City Xtra also reported at the time that contrary to reports, Manchester City officials did not raise the idea of including Phillips in a package player-plus-cash deal for Declan Rice, who was attracting strong interest from the Etihad Stadium but decided to join Arsenal in 2023.

A new report from Football Insider has outlined that Phillips is unlikely to leave Manchester City on a permanent basis in the 2026 January transfer window, with suitors expected to be few and far between for the Yorkshireman.

Instead, officials at the Etihad Stadium prefer keeping Phillips on their books, allow the midfielder a chance to improve his market value by enjoying a positive 2025-26 season and cashing in on Phillips next summer.

Phillips has spent time on loan at West Ham and Ipswich Town since joining Manchester City , who are likely to block a January exit for the out-of-favour star given the injury troubles that have derailed Rodri’s return to action since the summer.