Man City strikes an agreement to loan out Kalvin Phillips

Kalvin Phillips will be joining West Ham United on loan from Manchester City. 

Throughout his 18-month tenure at City, the 28-year-old has been on the edge of the squad, playing just 390 minutes of Premier League action in 16 games. 

The writing has been on the wall for the 2020–21 England men’s player of the year, while Phillips has played more frequently in cup competitions and Europe since Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes joined to strengthen a midfield that Rodri typically guided to victory.

In a swift move, West Ham and the Europa Conference League champions have agreed to a loan arrangement for Phillips that will keep him with the team through the conclusion of the current campaign.

According to rumours, the agreement will also contain a summer buyout option. With this, City hopes to recover the majority of the £42 million it gave Leeds United in July 2022, while West Ham has rebuffed interest from teams like Juventus and Newcastle United to get its player.

Using the British record £105 million they received for the sale of their captain, Declan Rice, to Arsenal last summer, the Hammers added excellent alternatives to David Moyes’s roster by signing Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse, and Mohammed Kudus. Lucas Paqueta may be able to continue playing in the wide role that he has been excelling in lately if Phillips can give another outlet in central midfield. 

In front of a demanding finish to the campaign that will see West Ham compete in the Europa League knockout rounds, Moyes should be able to rotate his players with Phillips’ arrival, provided his medical clearance. The Hammers defeated a group that included Olympiacos, SC Freiburg, and Serbia’s Backa Topola, easily making it to the round of 16. However, it yet remains to be disclosed who they will go up against.