Manchester City have previous when it comes to signing highly sought-after midfielders from the Premier League off the back of strong performances at an international tournament with England. But as Elliot Anderson prepares to begin his City career, the cautionary tale of Kalvin Phillips looms large.
Phillips earned a key role in England’s run to the European Championships final in 2021, and his £45m move to the Etihad in 2022 was expected to take his career to the next level. Instead, it marked arguably the most difficult period of his career. After just one substitute appearance in the Premier League, a shoulder injury sustained in training ruled him out for almost three months. By the time he returned in November, domestic football was winding down ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.
His absence allowed Rodri to further cement himself as City’s first-choice holding midfielder, and Phillips never managed to reclaim a foothold. Guardiola’s side lost only three of their final 22 Premier League matches that season to secure a fifth title in six years, before going on to become the first English club in almost a quarter of a century to complete the treble — winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, with Rodri scoring the winner against Inter Milan in the Champions League final. Phillips, largely a spectator, is now on the brink of joining Sheffield United on loan for a second successive season, his fourth loan departure from the Etihad.
Anderson is unlikely to face the same set of circumstances when his debut season at City begins. The club are entering a period of transition following Pep Guardiola’s departure at the end of last season, with Enzo Maresca appointed as his successor. It represents the biggest change City have undergone since Guardiola arrived in 2016, and comes alongside the departures of several long-serving players, including John Stones and Bernardo Silva.
Whether that transition opens doors or creates uncertainty for Anderson remains to be seen — but the story of Phillips serves as a stark reminder that arriving at City with momentum is no guarantee of what follows.
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
