Kalvin Phillips‘ move to Manchester City was supposed to represent the next major step in a career that had been built on consistency, determination and impressive performances for club and country.
Instead, the transfer has become one of the most puzzling recruitment decisions of Pep Guardiola’s era at the Etihad Stadium.
A new report has revealed that when Manchester City were assessing midfield options in the summer of 2022, Guardiola ultimately preferred Phillips to a player who would later emerge as one of Arsenal’s most influential figures and Ballon d’Or contenders – Declan Rice.
At the time, Phillips was widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s most accomplished holding midfielders following his rise at Leeds United.
His performances under Marcelo Bielsa had earned widespread praise, while his displays for England at Euro 2020 further strengthened his reputation as a player capable of operating at the highest level.
Manchester City agreed a deal worth £42 million to bring the Yorkshire-born midfielder to the club.
The expectation was that Phillips would develop into a long-term successor to Fernandinho while also providing competition for Rodri, who was steadily establishing himself as City’s first-choice defensive midfielder.
Former sporting director Txiki Begiristain played a key role in securing the transfer, believing Phillips possessed the qualities required to thrive in Guardiola’s demanding system.
Yet the move never unfolded as planned.
Injuries disrupted Phillips’ early months at the club, limiting his opportunities to settle into the side. When chances eventually arrived, he struggled to establish himself in a team operating at an exceptionally high standard.
Rodri’s remarkable consistency made it even more difficult for Phillips to break into the starting line-up.
The Spanish midfielder became one of the most important players in Guardiola’s squad, leaving little room for his England counterpart to gain momentum.
As months passed, Phillips found himself increasingly on the fringes of the first team.
Appearances became sporadic, confidence appeared to diminish and the midfielder who had once dominated Premier League midfields at Leeds looked a shadow of the player City thought they had signed.
Why Guardiola preferred Phillips to Rice
According to Telegraph Sport journalist Jason Burt, Guardiola’s decision to prioritise Phillips over Rice was based on specific technical attributes.
The report claims Guardiola believed Phillips possessed a superior passing range and was more effective at scanning the pitch and reading situations before receiving possession.
Those qualities are highly valued within City’s possession-based system, where midfielders are expected to process information quickly, distribute accurately and maintain control under pressure.
At the time, the assessment appeared understandable.
Phillips had been a standout performer for Leeds and England, demonstrating composure on the ball and an ability to dictate play from deep positions.
Rice, meanwhile, was continuing his development at West Ham United and had not yet fully established himself as one of Europe’s elite midfielders.
However, football decisions are often judged by what happens next rather than by the reasoning behind them.
In hindsight, Guardiola’s choice now appears to be one of the rare transfer miscalculations made during his hugely successful tenure at Manchester City.
While Phillips struggled to secure a meaningful role at the Etihad, Rice’s career trajectory accelerated dramatically.
The England international became one of the most sought-after midfielders in world football before eventually joining Arsenal in a club-record transfer.
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Since arriving in north London, he has developed into a central figure under Mikel Arteta, helping transform Arsenal into genuine title challengers.
Recognising Rice’s continued development, Manchester City reportedly attempted to enter the race for his signature.
Guardiola was said to be eager to bring the midfielder to the Etihad as the club searched for long-term reinforcement in the heart of midfield.
By that stage, however, Arsenal had already done the groundwork.
Arteta had spent considerable time convincing Rice that the Emirates Stadium was the ideal destination for the next stage of his career.
The Arsenal manager’s vision, combined with the club’s upward trajectory, helped ensure Rice’s preference was firmly set on moving to north London. City’s late interest was therefore unable to alter the outcome.
