1. He started out with Wortley FC
Kalvin Phillips started his football life with Wortley FC, a not-for-profit, community football club which has been based in West Leeds since 1974.
Wortley runs dozens of junior teams for boys and girls aged between four and 17, as well as senior teams for adults, in local competitions.
Phillips joined the club at the age of seven in 2003. He spent seven years with Wortley before joining Leeds United’s Academy at the age of 14 in 2010.
2. He was a star for his hometown club
Kalvin Phillips became a true star for his hometown club, Leeds United.
After debuting at 19 in April 2015, Phillips went on to play 234 times for the Peacocks, scoring 14 goals.
The midfielder played 37 times as Leeds won the EFL Championship title in 2019/20, ending the club’s 16-year absence from the Premier League, and his performances earned him a place in the PFA Championship Team of the Year.
3. He was nicknamed the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’
While Mark Noble was nicknamed the ‘Cockney Pirlo’ by West Ham United supporters who compared him to AC Milan and Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo, Leeds United fans drew the same comparison to Kalvin Phillips.
The Elland Road faithful nicknamed Phillips the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ in admiration of his passing ability, particularly over longer distances, and tenacious tackling.
4. He was capped by England before playing in the Premier League
While instances of players being capped by England while playing outside the top-flight are not uncommon, instances of players making their England debut before appearing in the Premier League have been very rare.
Only three players have done so this century – Preston North End striker David Nugent in 2007, Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha in 2012 and Kalvin Phillips when he debuted against Denmark in the UEFA Nations League in September 2020.
5. He has become an England regular
After making his England debut in September 2020 at the age of 24, Kalvin Phillips has appeared in 31 out of a possible 42 international matches for the Three Lions.
Phillips has started 23 of those 31 games, losing just four, including the UEFA Euro 2020 final penalty shootout defeat by Italy at Wembley Stadium in July 2021.
His performances saw him voted England Player of the Year in 2021.
6. He forged a superb partnership with Declan Rice
On 22 of Kalvin Phillips’ 31 appearances for England, he has appeared alongside former West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice.
The duo have finished on the losing side just three times when they have appeared together, in UEFA Nations League ties with Denmark and Hungary and the UEFA Euro 2020 final defeat by Italy at Wembley in 2021.
Of their 22 appearances together, 14 have ended in victories. Ten have seen England keep clean sheets, and the Three Lions have conceded just 15 goals in total in those games.
Only Harry Kane, with 26, and Harry Maguire, with 24, have shared the pitch with Phillips on more occasions for Gareth Southgate’s side.
7. He has recently become a father
Kalvin Phillips’ 1.3 million followers on Instagram were informed on Boxing Day 2023 that the midfielder and his partner Ashleigh became parents for the first time in November.
Phillips, who has been in a relationship with Ashleigh since 2011, when the couple were both just 15, posted a number of black and white photos on his social media account to announce the arrival of their baby.
