Is Phil Foden Heading Out Of Man City?

Phil Foden has never been one to shy away from pressure. A six-time Premier League champion by 24, he’s lived most of his adult life in the spotlight. But this season has tested him in ways he couldn’t have imagined,  physically, mentally, and emotionally.

After an outstanding 2023–24 campaign where he bagged 40 goal contributions and swept up the PFA, Football Writers’, and Premier League Player of the Year awards, the drop in form this season has been difficult to ignore. Just 10 goals and 6 assists in 44 appearances is a sharp fall for a player being touted as Kevin De Bruyne’s successor. But stats never tell the full story.

What Did Phil Foden Say?

“It’s been a frustrating season for me,” Foden admitted. “I’ve had a lot of things going on off the pitch mentally. It’s one of them, sometimes there’s things in life that are bigger than football.” That line alone shows the kind of weight he’s been carrying. In early April, Foden picked up a nasty ankle ligament injury in a match against neighbors Manchester United. He’s been playing through pain ever since.

“I picked up an ankle injury against United, and it’s taken time to heal. It was a bad ligament damage to the ankle,” he explained. “It took a while to heal before I could push myself back in training. I had to look after it.”

The effects were evident. Reduced explosiveness, labored movement, and, recently, being left on the bench in City’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth. This isn’t what Foden fans are used to. But to his credit, he’s still showing up, even when his body is telling him not to.

Rest, Recovery, Or Push Through?

With England’s World Cup qualifiers around the corner and the FIFA Club World Cup fast approaching, Foden finds himself in the middle of a tough call. The demands keep piling up, but his body is already waving a red flag. “Obviously, it’s a difficult situation for me with the internationals right around the corner,” he said. “It’s something we have to speak with the club and national team to see, maybe if it’s better to rest and get my ankle fully 100 percent back, how I want it. I just don’t know at the moment, it’s a conversation to be had, and we’ll see what happens.”

And it’s not just England calling. Pep Guardiola’s City is due to fly out to the United States for the expanded 32-team Club World Cup starting June 18, with a potential seven games in just under a month. If City makes it to the final on July 13, it will leave players like Foden only 34 days before the next Premier League season kicks off.

For someone already flirting with burnout, that’s far from ideal. “I need a few weeks off without playing football, and obviously I can’t get it at the moment,” Foden admitted. “A lot of people don’t know what football players have to go through and play with. I’ve had a lot of ankle pain and playing with it in the last couple of months. Some people don’t see what we go through, it’s frustrating for me because I know it’s been hard to get it right.”

So, Is He Leaving?

Naturally, when a player of Foden’s caliber goes through a difficult season, the questions begin. Is he unsettled? Could he be looking elsewhere? Is this the beginning of the end at Manchester City? Right now, that seems unlikely. What Foden needs isn’t a new club, it’s a proper rest. Time to recover both physically and mentally, reset, and remind everyone why he was the crown jewel of Manchester City’s academy.

“Hopefully, come next year, I can get my head mentally right, get back where I left the season before,” he said. “I know what I’m capable of doing and the quality I have. And I know if everything was OK, I’d definitely be better on the field.” That self-awareness is rare in footballers of his age. He’s not making excuses. He’s owning his season, with all its highs and lows. “Now it’s just about improving and getting back to my best. I know my standards and what I can reach. I’m looking forward to getting back.”

That’s the spirit City fans should take comfort in. He’s not running from anything. He’s just pausing to heal. And when Foden gets that break he’s asking for, there’s every reason to believe he’ll come back sharper, hungrier, and at his absolute best.