The England international joined City from Leeds United on Monday, committing his future to the Club until 2028.
During his time at Elland Road, Phillips forged a reputation as one of the most effective holding midfielders in the Premier League, with his energy and astute tactical awareness complemented by an impressive passing range.
The 26-year-old was a standout member of the England squad that reached the final of Euro 2020 and, after recovering from a hamstring injury, followed that up by helping Leeds avoid relegation on the final day of the 2021/22 season.
From distance covered through to possession recoveries, we take a detailed look at some of the incredible numbers behind the rapid rise of City’s new number four…
Possession recoveries
For all of City’s quality on the ball, Pep Guardiola’s men are also famed for our intensity without it, stifling opponents and often recovering possession just moments after it has been lost.
This attribute has been a key identifying point of Guardiola’s sides over the years, and one that Phillips has excelled in during his career to date.
After ranking just outside the top ten in his debut Premier League campaign, the Leeds midfielder averaged 10.2 possession recoveries per 90 across his 20 top flight appearances last season.
It meant the 26-year-old boasted the highest average of any player who played more than 900 Premier League minutes across 2021/22.
Pressures
After enjoying an impressive debut campaign in the Premier League, Phillips attracted national attention for his standout displays in England’s march to the Euro 2020 final.
The midfielder was an ever-present for the Three Lions, with his defensive discipline and energy essential in his nation’s march to a first major international final in 55 years.
Those qualities were reflected in the tournament’s overall stats, with his 229 pressures an astonishing 78 more than any other player at Euro 2020.
Only Austria’s Konrad Laimer (49) enjoyed a higher success rate than Phillips.
Distance covered
Another key aspect of Phillips’ impressive Euro 2020 campaign was the distance he covered for England across the tournament.
Only Italy’s Jorginho covered more distance than the 26-year-old’s 82.8km, which averaged out at just shy of 12km per match.
In England’s dramatic semi-final victory over Denmark, Phillips covered an astonishing 15.3km alone.
CITY+ | SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
Progression
One of the most impressive observations from the 26-year-old’s time in the Premier League has been his year-on-year progression in key defensive metrics.
In 2020/21 – his maiden campaign in the top flight – Phillips finished with an average of 7.9 possession recoveries, 2.7 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per match, ranking 11th, 12th and 19th among his Premier League midfielders.
However, despite a considerable spell on the side lines with a hamstring injury, the midfielder’s recovery and tackling stats increased to 10.2 and 3.0 per appearance – ranking 1st and 9th among other Premier League players in his position, while his 1.4 interceptions saw him place 18th.
It was a similar story at last summer’s European Championships, with Phillips making more tackles than any other member of the England squad, while only Austria’s Stefan Lainer had as much successful when attempting to win the ball back for his team across the entire tournament.
