Phil Foden has emerged over the last few seasons as arguably one of the best players in world football. The 24-year-old from Stockport is not just a premier playmaker, but also one of the most prolific goalscoring midfielders in today’s game, which has deservedly seen him named as one of the 30 nominees for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
But, before emerging as one of Manchester City’s star players, in 2018, Foden was linked with a loan move away from the Cityzens to Leeds United, then managed by Marcelo Bielsa, though no deal ever materialized.
Joining Leeds was always considered a long shot, but in 2018, the Yorkshire club had appointed Bielsa as manager, and as a well-respected figure in football, there was optimism that his stature would be enough to help attract some big names to the Championship side.
With Bielsa having a strong relationship with City manager Pep Guardiola, the thought of a prospect like Foden – who had made his senior debut for the club just the season prior, in which he made just five appearances off the bench in the Premier League – joining the club, was not considered that outlandish, and in the summer of 2018, he, along with that of Juan Foyth, who was then with Tottenham Hotspur, were heavily linked with Leeds.
Young players are sent out on loan to clubs lower down in the football pyramid all the time to develop their games. Take Harry Kane, for example, who spent time in both the Championship and League One before becoming one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history with Spurs.
With Foden looking for the chance to develop, journalist Simon O’Rourke revealed (via Through it All Together – Leeds’ coverage on SB Nation):
“I’ve heard Foden & Foyth are there for the club to say yes to. I assume that means they’re offered and i just requires club consent, but by Jesus what a couple of signings they’d be.”
In response to this Pete Schlenker, of the same source, noted:
“These types of rumours will be floating around with the obvious links between Guardiola and [Mauricio] Pochettino to Bielsa, so while they might seem a little extreme, they aren’t out of the realm of possibility… It’s a spicy rumour for sure.”
Obviously, such a move would never transpire, with Foden ultimately choosing to stick with Guardiola and City to further develop his career.
Coming through City’s academy, Foden got on the scoresheet twice in a 5-2 win to help England clinch the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup final over Spain, which saw him receive widespread media attention. A month on from that win, and Foden made his senior debut in the Cityzens’ UEFA Champions League group game against Feyenoord, which saw him become just the fourth-youngest English player to appear in the competition at 17 years and 177 days.
Fifteen days later, he would make his first start in the competition, becoming the first player born in 2000 to make a start, while he was also the youngest ever English player to do so, though this was surpassed by Jude Bellingham three years later.
Fast-forward to now, and Foden has made 277 appearances in all competitions for his boyhood club, of which he has scored 88 goals and has 54 assists, firmly establishing himself as one of the best – and most highly valued – young players in the world, being virtually unplayable at times, with his quick feet, dribbling and technical prowess having even seen him draw comparisons with highly-touted legends of the game including former teammate, David Silva, and Andres Iniest
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