Kalvin Phillips’ Manchester City career appears to be drifting toward an inevitable conclusion, with growing indications that the Sky Blues could allow the midfielder to join a Premier League club without a transfer fee attached.
After three turbulent years at the Etihad Stadium, Phillips looks increasingly likely to move on in January as he tries to salvage a career that has stalled dramatically since his 2022 arrival.
He joined City from Leeds in a £45 million deal designed to make him a long-term option in Pep Guardiola’s midfield.
Instead, injuries, form, and stylistic mismatch have negatively affected Kalvin Phillips’ Manchester City career and left him on the bench of one of Europe’s most competitive squads.
It was reported in October that Phillips is “almost certain” to depart in the upcoming window, and nothing since has suggested any late turnaround in his fortunes.
His situation has invited renewed interest from Leeds, who have been repeatedly linked with a reunion since the day he left Elland Road.
The club have tracked his availability closely, and January now presents their clearest opportunity yet to bring the 30-year-old home.
Phillips has been deemed surplus to requirements at City, and sources close to the player believe he would welcome a return to the club where he made his name.
But Leeds are not alone. Wolves are also monitoring the situation as they attempt to strengthen a midfield that has lacked depth during a difficult campaign.
With the club battling to pull clear of the relegation scrap, adding Premier League experience at minimal cost is an appealing prospect.
Yet the most striking development has been the suggestion that City may be open to letting Phillips depart on a free transfer.
Former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, said the club are prepared to absorb the financial hit if it means resolving a situation that no longer benefits any party.
Phillips’ time at the Etihad has been marked by limited opportunities, and this season has provided almost none.
He has played only seven minutes across all competitions, coming off the bench in September’s 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Huddersfield Town.
For a player who made 234 appearances for Leeds before moving to Manchester, the contrast has been stark.
After a year-long loan at Ipswich Town last season—where he was unable to help keep the club in the Premier League—Phillips returned to Manchester in the summer hopeful of a fresh start.
But Guardiola has offered no indication that the midfielder has any role in his plans.
Borson believes the lack of game time, coupled with Phillips’ desire to revive his career, makes a January exit unavoidable.
“Clearly, the player desperately needs a move. He’s not going to play for City,” Borson said.
“I think he’s somebody with a decent attitude. I’m sure he’s not completely depressed about the situation, but it’s not good for him, so he has to move.”
The financial implications of any deal are complex. Phillips remains on significant wages, and Leeds—now operating under stricter financial constraints after recent relegation and subsequent restructuring—could not realistically match his current salary.
But Borson says City are willing to subsidise heavily.
“I think City will be prepared to pay the vast majority of those wages, maybe all. I mean, why wouldn’t you be? City are getting nothing out of him.
“Why wouldn’t you give yourself a chance for him to resurrect his career and try and get some value out of a future sale, even if it’s a free transfer, to be honest, just to get him off the wage bill.”
Crucially, Phillips himself would also be ready to make the move possible. According to Borson, the midfielder is open to reducing his wages if that is what it takes to return to Leeds, a club where he enjoyed his best years under Marcelo Bielsa.
“I think City will make a contribution,” Borson said.
“I think the player probably would take a pay cut as well if that was required to get him a move. Leeds might not be interested, but if they are interested, I think there’s a very good chance that deal could be done.
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“It makes perfect sense and I’m sure City would heavily subsidise the deal. There’s no choice now, right? We’re well past the point where you can play any sort of hardball in a negotiation.
“The market’s dead for the player and he’s not required at City. It’s similar to a number of other players around the big clubs. There are lots of examples of these highly-paid players that are no longer wanted. You’ve got to find a solution for them.”
The question now is not whether City will let Phillips go, but under what terms—and which club will take the opportunity.
A return to Leeds would be emotionally significant for supporters who still hold him in high regard, but a move to Wolves could provide more regular top-flight minutes.
What appears certain is that the story of Kalvin Phillips’ Manchester City career is nearing its end.
Three years, just 32 appearances, and a career stuck in limbo have left both club and player searching for resolution. As January approaches, all signs point toward a move—not for profit, but for practicality.