Phil Foden is facing one of the biggest tests of his career. For years, the Manchester City star was seen as the golden boy, the academy wonderkid who grew into Pep Guardiola’s trusted weapon. He was the boy who lifted trophies, scored in derbies, danced with joy at the Etihad, and became a symbol of everything City had built. But today, things look very different. Instead of smiles, there is worry. Instead of certainty, there is doubt. Instead of guaranteed stardom, there are whispers that his place at both City and England could slip away if things don’t change fast.
Foden has been tipped for a shock Manchester City exit, a thought that once seemed impossible. This is a player who grew up dreaming of wearing the sky-blue shirt, who joined the club as a kid and stayed loyal even when other clubs circled around him. But football has a cruel way of testing loyalty, and right now, the nightmare scenario is being spoken about loudly: what if Foden has to leave City just to save his career?m
The story of Phil Foden’s current struggles is not just about injuries or missed games. It is about pressure, about expectations, about the mental battle that comes when the body no longer responds the way it used to. It is about watching others rise while you stand still. It is about wondering if the same club that raised you could one day push you to the side. And it is about England, about the chance to represent his country on the world stage, a chance that now feels like it could slip away if his form doesn’t return.
Last season was tough. Foden admitted it himself. He wasn’t himself on or off the pitch. After a stunning 2023/24 season where he carried Manchester City to their historic fourth Premier League title in a row with 19 goals and eight assists, winning the **PFA Players’ Player of the Year award**, everyone thought he had stepped into a new level. He looked untouchable, unstoppable, and destined to rule both City and England for years. But football can change in the blink of an eye. The following season, 2024/25, everything came crashing down.
Foden battled ankle problems, but there were also whispers of personal struggles away from football. He never looked sharp, never looked free. The numbers showed the decline. From 19 goals, he dropped to seven. From eight assists, he dropped to just two in the Premier League. And while he had a small bright moment at the Club World Cup, scoring three goals in four games, it wasn’t enough to silence the growing concern. City themselves slipped. They finished third in the Premier League. They lost the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace. For a club used to dominance, it felt like a collapse. And for Foden, it felt like he was carrying more than just his own weight—he was carrying disappointment.
This season, it has gone from bad to worse. He has only played once for Manchester City. Pep Guardiola, who once called him the most talented player he had ever seen, has not given him the same trust. England manager Thomas Tuchel left him out of the squad for the latest World Cup qualifiers, telling him he needs to “find the joy back in his game.” Imagine that—Phil Foden, once the heart of England’s future, now told he must rediscover his love for football.
The nightmare scenario people are whispering is simple: if this continues, Foden could miss the World Cup. He has not played for England since March, and with so many attacking midfielders shining across Europe, his absence is starting to feel normal. Jude Bellingham is the king at Real Madrid. Cole Palmer is running Chelsea. Eberechi Eze is dazzling at Arsenal. Morgan Rogers has taken a step forward at Aston Villa. Morgan Gibbs-White continues to be a leader at Forest. Everywhere you look, English attackers are in form. And then there’s Foden, sitting on the sidelines.
Former players have started speaking out. Alan Brazil said he was “astonished” that Foden isn’t playing. He couldn’t believe that a player with so much talent, a player who was once the energy spark of City, is now left struggling. He even wondered aloud whether Foden might need to leave City to save his international career. He called it a disaster if Foden misses the World Cup. Then came Gabby Agbonlahor, who delivered another painful truth. He admitted that right now, Foden isn’t even a guaranteed starter for Manchester City, let alone England.
This is the reality: City have depth in midfield and attack. Guardiola has options, so many options, and Foden is no longer the automatic choice. It hurts because Foden is not just another player—he is a boyhood fan. He bleeds blue. He dreamed of lifting trophies for City, and he has done that over and over again. He has won every major honour at the club. But football is ruthless. It does not pause for sentiment.
At 25 years old, Foden should be in his prime. These are the years where players hit their peak, where they dominate, where they write their legacy. But instead, he finds himself fighting just to play, fighting just to be included. The fear is simple: if he doesn’t turn things around soon, his prime years could be wasted on the bench. And for England, it could mean missing the World Cup—a disaster for a player once seen as untouchable.
Yet football stories are rarely simple. They are filled with twists. And maybe, just maybe, this struggle could be the fire Foden needs. He is fit again. And fate has given him the perfect test: a derby against Manchester United at the Etihad. Foden has always loved the derby. He has scored six goals against United in just 11 Premier League appearances. He knows how to hurt them. If there is ever a time to rise again, to silence the doubts, it is now.
The question is: will he rise, or will the nightmare continue?
If Foden plays and shines against United, the conversation changes. The same voices that doubt him today will praise him tomorrow. That is the beauty and cruelty of football. One game can change everything. But if he struggles again, if he looks lost again, the whispers about leaving City will grow louder. Because at the end of the day, even if Guardiola says he would never sell him, football careers are short. Foden cannot afford to waste years watching from the bench.l
There is another painful twist here. For City fans, the thought of Foden leaving feels impossible. He is their own. He is not just a player—they see him as family. He represents the academy dream, the proof that a local boy can rise in a team filled with global stars. To see him leave would break hearts. But fans are also realists. They know football waits for no one. If Foden cannot play, if he cannot shine, then something must give.
For now, the derby holds the answer. The eyes of England will be on him. Will Foden remind the world why he was once hailed as the future? Or will the nightmare scenario creep closer to reality?
One thing is clear—Phil Foden is at a crossroads. And whichever path he takes next will define the rest of his career.
