Kalvin Phillips, formerly under Marcelo Bielsa, hails Leeds finish and 49ers Enterprises | OneFootball

Kalvin Phillips hailed Leeds United’s Premier League return as an achievement he considered incredible, saying he still feels the same connection as fans after Daniel Farke’s side secured safety with a 14th-place finish.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, the Manchester City midfielder returned to Elland Road this week, joining Patrick Bamford in the East Stand’s Hisense Lounge to watch England v Ghana and answer fan questions.

He felt Leeds handled a mid-season wobble, then pulled clear with a second half that sealed safety with three games left. Phillips believed their second half form was around seventh and relaxed only once survival was assured.

A key figure under Marcelo Bielsa when Leeds claimed a top-10 finish, Phillips moved to Manchester City for £42m. As Leeds went down in 2023, he won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, making 12, three and four appearances respectively.

Phillips has since had loans at West Ham, Ipswich Town and Sheffield United. He praised chairman Paraag Marathe and 49ers Enterprises, calling the ownership’s work clear progression.

An Achilles injury cost him the start of 2025/26 and an early loan. A January switch to Bramall Lane yielded three outings and two starts before a red card and a knee injury ended his season in February. He said he now hopes for a good campaign.

He has been linked with another spell under Chris Wilder at Sheffield United as he enters the penultimate year of his Etihad contract.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk