says that the key reason behind his move from home town club Leeds United to Premier League champions is his desire to improve as a player.
The 26-year-old has been signed by in order to reinforce the City midfield following the departure of club captain Fernandinho, who has joined Athletico Paranaense in Brazil after nine years at Eastlands.
With Rodri the only traditional holding midfielder left in the City squad, Guardiola has moved to secure the signing of one of the key players in Gareth Southgate’s England squad, with a fee of £45m being enough to prize him from Elland Road.
Phillips missed the majority of last season through injury as Leeds maintained their Premier League status on the final day of the season, and Guardiola will be hoping that the hamstring issue which kept him out between December and April has been fully resolved.
After being confirmed as City’s new number four, Phillips discussed his determination to improve.
‘It’s one of the main reasons I wanted to come to City, to improve my game in loads of different ways,’ Phillips told .
‘It’s hard for me to say right now how I’m going to play a role in the team because it’s very difficult to come into a team of eighteen superstars. I’m looking forward to just getting to know the boys and getting my feet firmly on the ground and work from there.’
Phillips starred in England’s run to the final of EURO 2020, and is likely to play a key role in the national team’s upcoming 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar. The player insists he is determined to play in more showpiece fixtures like the EURO final with his new club side.
‘I did play in the Euros final and to be honest the nerves didn’t really hit me when I was playing it, it was more after that how big the game was,’ Phillips added. ‘I deal very well with situations like that, I think I’m pretty suited to playing big games. I’ve not experienced many of them but hopefully this season I will do.’
Manchester City are refreshing their frontline this summer. Having already sold Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal, they are discussing a move to Chelsea for Raheem Sterling and have brought in Norway striker Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.
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