LONDON —
Manchester City have signed Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips in a £45 million
deal, the Premier League champions confirmed on Monday.
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City agreed an
initial fee of £42 million for the England international, with a further £3
million to be added in potential bonuses.
Phillips, who has
signed a six-year contract with Pep Guardiola’s side, said: “I am absolutely
delighted to have joined Manchester City.”
Guardiola has
picked Phillips to bolster his midfield after the departure of long-serving
Brazilian Fernandinho at the end of last season.
City negotiated a
deal in principle to sign Phillips in June and the transfer has now been
officially completed.
Phillips, who came
through the youth ranks at Leeds, moves to the
Etihad Stadium after making 235
appearances for his hometown club over the past eight seasons.
“City have again
proved to be the best team in the country with an amazing squad and a manager
in
Pep Guardiola who is rightly considered to be the finest in the world,”
Phillips said.
“To be able to
play under Pep and learn from him and his coaching staff as well as be part of
such a fantastic squad is a prospect that I am incredibly excited about
City have again proved to be the best team in the country with an amazing squad. ...
“City are a
world-class club with world-class staff and facilities and it’s a dream come
true to have joined the club.”
Phillips is City’s
third close-season arrival after the signings of Borussia Dortmund striker
Erling Haaland and Arminia Bielefeld goalkeeper Stefan Ortega Moreno.
The 26-year-old
came through the youth ranks at Leeds and played a key part in their promotion
back to the Premier League two years ago.
He went on to
establish himself as an England international, featuring in the run to the
European Championship final last year.
Following the
blockbuster swoop for Haaland, City have again signalled their determination to
retain the Premier League title with the Phillips deal.
Phillips’ arrival
came on the day City sold Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal, with City
forward Raheem Sterling also linked with a move to Chelsea.
“We are absolutely
delighted to be able to welcome Kalvin to Manchester City,” City director of
football
Txiki Begiristain said.
“He is a player
that we have long admired, and at both domestic and international level, he has
proved his fantastic ability and quality over the past few seasons.
“We feel he will
be a superb addition to our squad and that he will complement our game
perfectly.”
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