Phillips makes City switch as Jesus becomes a Gunner
Manchester City have completed the signing of midfielder Kalvin Phillips from Leeds on a six-year contract.
City agreed a basic fee of £42million with Leeds for the England international last month, with a potential further £3m to be added in bonuses.
Phillips, who came through the youth ranks at Leeds, switches to the Etihad Stadium after making 235 appearances for his hometown club over the past eight seasons.
Phillips said: “I am absolutely delighted to have joined Manchester City.
“City have again proved to bethebestteaminthecountry with an amazing squad and a manager in Pep Guardiola who is rightly considered to be the finest in the world.
“To be able to play under Pep and learn from him and his coaching staff as well as be part of such a fantastic squad is a prospect that I am incredibly excited about.
“Cityareaworld-classclub with world-class staff and facilities and it’s a dream come true to have joined the club.”
PhillipsisCity’sfourthnew arrivalofthesummerafterthe signings of Erling Haaland, Stefan Ortega Moreno and Julian Alvarez.
Phillips rose to prominence as Leeds won promotion to the Premier League in 2020 and went on to establish himself in the top flight. He
then played a key role for England as they reached the final of Euro 2020 last year.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus says he was a fan of Arsenal as a boy because of Thierry Henry and will now follow in the Frenchman’s footsteps after joining the club from Manchester City.
The Brazil international has also been reunited with Mikel Arteta, who spent more than three years as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City before takingthemanager’sjobatthe Emirates Stadium.
Jesus,25,isbelievedtohave signedafive-yearcontractina reported£45milliondeal,having left City after scoring 95 goals in 236 appearances and winning the Premier League four times, EFL Cup three times and the FA Cup.
“I followed Arsenal when I was young because of Henry,” he told arsenal.com.
“Obviously I didn’t follow toomanyEuropeanteams,but when I saw some of the players that played here, I was like “Wow, this club is big”.
“I’m so happy to sign for
this big club. Since day one when I knew I could come to play for Arsenal, I was happy. I know the staff, I know some players, the Brazilian ones. I knowtherearealotoftopplayers.”
Jesus hopes his relationship with Arteta will help him improve further.
“We spoke a couple of times about the club, the players,theprojectandthefuture,” he added.
“I believe 100 per cent in Mikel. I had a very good time with him before, he’s a very goodguyandaverygoodcoach aswell.Hehelpedmealot.We wouldalwayssticktogetherafter the training sessions and do some finishing or something.
“He’s a very intelligent guy and was an amazing player, so if he knows something he can teach me or the young players.”
Following the departure of Alexandre Lacazette after the expiry of his contract, Arsenal needed reinforcements up front and Arteta knew the man he wanted to come in.