“It’s an honour” – Pep Guardiola hails Manchester City star on verge of 200th Premier League appearance | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has lauded Phil Foden as the Manchester City and England forward prepares to make his 200th Premier League appearance against Bournemouth on Sunday.

Foden was integrated into Manchester City’s senior ranks by Guardiola in his second season at the Etihad Stadium and the 25-year-old has since established himself as one of the greatest products of the City Football Academy.

The Stockport-born attacker was named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year for the 2023-24 campaign when he spearheaded his boyhood club to their fourth successive Premier League title and enjoyed his best year in a Manchester City shirt.

Foden has endured a turbulent time off the pitch in the last 12 months, having been far from his best since the start of the 2024-25 season and admitted that physical and mental issues away from football have derailed him from playing his best football in the last year.

However, after enjoying an impressive FIFA Club World Cup campaign and making an encouraging start to the 2025-26 season, Foden is very much looking like he can build on his current momentum and play his way back to his best form.

Manchester City take on Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday as the Blues look to return to winning ways after their two month unbeaten run in all competitions ended at nine games last week, when Guardiola and co lost 1-0 away at Aston Villa.

City made several changes to their lineup in midweek as goals from Jeremy Doku, Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki helped the eight-time Premier League champions register a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-final courtesy of a 3-1 triumph away at Swansea City.

Foden is in line to start against Bournemouth on Sunday as Manchester City look to keep up the pressure on league leaders and title favourites Arsenal, who are six points clear of fifth-place City and have made a fast start to the Premier League campaign.

Speaking in a press conference on Friday, Guardiola was asked to reflect on Foden’s journey from a Manchester City academy star to a seasoned member of the first-team as the England international prepares for his 200th Premier League appearance this weekend.

“It’s an honour for me to have seen these 200 games close to him, and the impact he has done for us – the club of his heart. It’s a good milestone, especially at his age,” Guardiola said.

Guardiola was also quizzed about Foden’s England prospects and whether the Manchester City star can expect a call back to Thomas Tuchel’s squad in the coming months. “English players are fantastic in his position, there are a lot, many,” Guardiola said. “He has to play good everyday and after, Thomas (Tuchel) will decide the best for the national team.”

It will be a special moment for all those associated with the City Football Academy should Foden step on the pitch and register a significant milestone in his career, having truly cemented himself as the poster boy of Manchester City’s academy.