Why Kalvin Phillips has chosen Sheffield United over Wolves and Burnley | OneFootball

Man City midfielder Kalvin Phillips is headed to join Sheffield United despite interest from Wolves and Burnley in the Premier League.

Kalvin Phillips is set for a return to the Championship via Sheffield United, with the Man City midfielder last playing for Leeds United in the division in 2019/20.

Leeds won the league that season, with the midfielder starring under Marcelo Bielsa a year after Sheffield United pipped them to automatic promotion alongside Norwich City.

Having impressed in the Premier League, the 30-year-old earned a move to Manchester City back in 2022. He has not featured regularly at all under Pep Guardiola, leading to recent loans to West Ham United and Ipswich Town.

Phillips' one and only appearance this season came in the final seven minutes of City's Carabao Cup win against Huddersfield Town in September. He is an England international with 31 caps between 2020 and 2023.

He was handed his debut by Gareth Southgate before ever kicking a ball in the Premier League but he is now set to return to the second tier, with Phillips set for a switch to Sheffield United from Man City on transfer deadline day.

Kalvin Phillips set to join Sheffield United over Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers

The move is set to go through with David Ornstein of The Athletic revealing full agreement is in place on a loan deal with no option to buy. It may come as a surprise to some, given that there has been Premier League interest in the current window.

Just four days ago, Pete O'Rourke revealed Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers were keen on the midfielder before the close of the current transfer window.

However, amid the Sheffield United deal going through, it has been revealed why he prefers the switch to South Yorkshire over remaining in the English top flight during what is a World Cup year.

Phillips is set to be paid the bulk of his wages and there were other clubs interested, but he was keen to return to Yorkshire over joining Burnley or Wolves — per Sky Sports' Rob Dorsett.

Speaking on Sky Sports News Deadline Day at 4.30pm, he added: "I think the fact he's going to Bramall Lane is a massive move for him. It's a fresh start, he's going back home to Yorkshire, and he needs to rebuild his career.

"He's had a really tough time with injuries and I think his confidence is at an all-time low. And so the chance to play again and to play regularly is what he desperately needs.

"He's at the prime of his career now, he ought to be playing more, he's injury free, he's desperate to play.

"I think everybody in football — he's such a nice guy, he's liked by everybody, and he's a real talent. I think, if he can get playing again for Sheffield United and get that confidence back up, he can be a real force again.

"This is by no means the end of his career. This is a fresh start for him. If he can prove himself again, there is only one way and that is up again."

Kalvin Phillips' career stats so far

Phillips will have serious competition for places with the Blades, with former Leeds midfielder Joe Rothwell also set to sign to add to the likes of Gus Hamer, Jairo Riedewald, Sydie Peck, Oli Arblaster, Tom Davies, and Djibril Soumare.

He will also reunite with Jamie Shackleton and Patrick Bamford, as well as new boy Leo Hjelde. It's an exciting move in that sense with so many familiar faces around him to help bed in.

If match fit and sharp, which will take time, Phillips' quality and experience should be vital to a Blades team eyeing a run at the play-off places.