Kalvin Phillips secures Championship loan until end of 2025/26 season | OneFootball

Manchester City have secured a loan deal for Kalvin Phillips until the end of the ongoing season, it has been confirmed.

The England international’s departure brings an end, at least temporarily, to a challenging period at the Etihad Stadium, where opportunities have been limited amid fierce competition in Pep Guardiola’s midfield.

Despite arriving as a high-profile signing from Leeds United in 2022 as England Player of the Year, Phillips has struggled to establish a consistent role, with injuries and tactical adaptation both playing a part in his reduced involvement.

Manchester City’s preference throughout the January transfer window had been to find a solution to the player’s need for regular football, and while a permanent transfer was never viewed as straightforward, a short-term loan became the most realistic outcome.

For Phillips, the move represents a chance to reset his season and rebuild confidence away from the intense scrutiny that comes with playing for the one of the biggest clubs in England, and Championship football – while demanding – is expected to provide the midfielder with consistent minutes and a clear role within a side eager to benefit from his experience.

Following a fast-moving negotiation across the course of transfer deadline day, Kalvin Phillips has joined Sheffield United on loan until the end of the ongoing season from Manchester City.

It is further understood that the Blades will not have an option nor an obligation to purchase the Englishman at the end of his six-month agreement in South Yorkshire.

Club officials will no doubt closely monitor his performances over the coming months, particularly with an eye on how regularly he features and whether he can rediscover the form that once made him a key figure at both Leeds United and England.

From Sheffield United’s perspective, securing a player of Kalvin Phillips’ pedigree without committing to a permanent deal reduces financial risk while significantly strengthening their midfield options for the remainder of the campaign.

Should the loan prove successful, it could also place the Blades in a stronger position to revisit negotiations in the future, with no financial pressure at present with Manchester City believed to be paying the majority of the player’s wages during the second-half of the season.

Sheffield United now becomes Kalvin Phillips’ third temporary loan deal away from the Etihad Stadium in the last four season, following experiences with West Ham United and Ipswich Town.