Kalvin Phillips ‘set for another EFL loan’ with two years still left on lucrative Man City contract

Aug 11, 2026 - 12:30

Kalvin Phillips is nearing a return to Sheffield United on loan, according to reports.

The Manchester City midfielder spent the second half of last season at Bramall Lane but only managed three appearances before a knee injury brought an early end to his stint.

Kalvin Phillips of Sheffield United battles for possession with Morgan Whittaker of Middlesbrough during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United and Middlesbrough — Phillips was sent off in his most recent appearance for the Blades

However, the injury has not proved to be enough to put off Blades boss Chris Wilder from wanting to bring Phillips back.

Local outlet The Star report that he is closing in on a return to Bramall Lane.

Should the deal be completed, it would mark yet another loan for Phillips, who has no future at City despite having two years to run on his reported £150,000-a-week deal.

The 30-year-old was not included in City’s squad for their pre-season tour of Asia, where they took on Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and the K League All-Stars.

How many games has Kalvin Phillips played for Manchester City?

Phillips’ omission from the touring party represented the latest low in what has been a difficult spell at the club since his £42million arrival from Leeds in July 2022.

To date, Phillips has made just 32 competitive appearances for City, with only six of those being starting berths.

The difficulty to break into City’s line-up led to Phillips spending time on loan at West Ham and Ipswich Town.

However, neither spell helped Phillips rediscover the form that made him a 31-time England international.

What has Chris Wilder said about signing Kalvin Phillips?

Yet Wilder is convinced Phillips can still be an asset and stated in April he hoped the club would ‘love to be an option’ for the midfielder this summer.

“We brought a really good pro in,” Wilder said.

“He was unlucky with his injury – he passed a tough medical.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder — Wilder remains an admirer of Phillips despite the midfielder’s struggles over the years

“He’s not played as much as he wanted to play but he’s been in around the place.

“I’ve just basically said to him: ‘We’d love to be an option for you, your agent and your parent club.’

“He certainly ticks the boxes in terms of personality and characteristics.

“He’s been to every one of our home games and in here for 90 per cent of his rehab. He’s been in player meetings he didn’t have to be. That’s invaluable for us.”

Wilder’s side enjoyed a winning start to the 2026/27 campaign courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Mansfield Town in their Carabao Cup first round encounter on Sunday.

Goals from Patrick Bamford, Mark McGuinness and Callum O’Hare did the business for the Blades, who will face Blackburn Rovers in the next round.