How emotional Declan Rice message impacted transfer of Manchester City treble-winner

Redaction Willow Austin with Harry Winters
Published on 2024-02-15 14:45:00

Manchester City loanee Kalvin Phillips recently made the move to West Ham United, choosing to depart the Etihad Stadium despite interest from other clubs. The 28-year-old midfielder had only made two starts for Manchester City during the season, prompting his decision to leave. Since making the move to West Ham, Phillips has already made three appearances for the club, with manager David Moyes giving him opportunities in both the Premier League and the UEFA Europa League campaign.

Phillips’ departure from Manchester City was driven by the potential to miss out on a place at the European Championships this summer, as competition for spots in the England squad grew. Despite his uncertain future beyond the current campaign due to the lack of a purchase obligation in the loan agreement, Phillips was attracted to West Ham by a message from former West Ham captain Declan Rice. In an interview with The Sun, Phillips explained that Rice had spoken highly of West Ham as a ‘massive family club’, which resonated with his desire to feel at home.

The 28-year-old’s decision to move to West Ham was further solidified by the fact that Manchester City had also shown interest in signing Rice, who ended up joining Arsenal in a significant £105 million deal. Phillips expressed his desire to feel at home at West Ham, a sentiment that was reinforced by Rice’s positive comments about the club.

The move to West Ham represents a new opportunity for Phillips to make his mark and secure a place in the England squad for the European Championships. Despite his limited opportunities at Manchester City, the midfielder is eager to make an impact at his new club and contribute to their success in the coming months.

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