What Kalvin Phillips did on flight back to sign for West Ham from Man City shows his class

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What Kalvin Phillips did on his flight back from Abu Dhabi to sign for West Ham from Man City shows his class.

West Ham are expected to seal the loan signing of Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City on Thursday or Friday.

It will bring to an end a difficult spell for the midfielder after he failed to establish himself at Man City under Pep Guardiola following a £45m move from Leeds.

West Ham boss David Moyes has held an interest in Phillips stretching way back to the January 2022 window when he was still at Elland Road.

The Hammers made a £50m bid for Phillips back then which was rejected by Leeds, who went on to sell him for £5m less to Man City the following summer – as confirmed by Moyes himself.

Phillips will undoubtedly be labelled as a Man City flop. And some have even questioned whether West Ham actually need him.

What Phillips did on flight shows his class

Moyes is notorious for doing his due diligence on players before signing them both as players and characters.

The Hammers boss once declared he was implementing a strict ‘no d-heads’ recruitment policy inspired by the All Blacks when he was rebuilding West Ham, as reported at the time by The Daily Mail.

And one thing that is for certain, West Ham seem to be bringing a top person and professional into the building as well as a quality player.

What Phillips did on his flight back to sign for West Ham from Man City shows his class.

Top person and player

Phillips heads to east London today having flown back from a Manchester City training camp in UAE’s capital Abu Dhabi.

It says everything about him as a character that Man City’s players are reportedly gutted to see much-loved Phillips depart.

And according to Daily Mail journalist Jack Gaughan, Phillips – knowing he was leaving to sign for West Ham when the plane’s wheels touched down – showed pure class.

“On the flight back from Abu Dhabi from their warm-weather camp on Tuesday, he made sure to say farewell and thanks to all 100 staff members on board the plane,” Gaughan revealed. 

‘A good egg’

“He’s a good egg, Phillips. He always smiles, Phillips. At least in public. Good trainer, never any bother.

“It is testament to his personality that he still felt involved (at Man City), parking his ego at the door. And perhaps that has been part of the problem.

“The hinges on Guardiola’s door always remained intact. ‘Going in and arguing is just not Kalvin,’ said a source. ‘He gets his head down and grafts. He’s very respectful.'”

West Ham are clearly getting a top person in Phillips.

And under a manager who clearly rates him highly, Hammers fans will be hoping the 28-year-old proves he is still as a top player too.

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