Phil Foden ‘Prepared to Move Abroad’ as Manchester City Contract Stalls Amid Playing Time and Confidence Crisis

Phil Foden is reportedly prepared to move abroad if he doesn't receive playing time assurances from Pep Guardiola as his Man City contract nears its end.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 29, 2026, 9:40 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Football365

Contract Standoff and the Threat of an Overseas Move

The future of Phil Foden at Manchester City has entered a period of significant uncertainty as the England international reportedly weighs up a move abroad. According to reports from Football Insider, Foden is ready to seek a fresh start outside of the Premier League if his concerns regarding playing time cannot be addressed. With his current contract set to enter its final year at the end of the 2025/26 season, Manchester City is expected to accelerate negotiations in the coming months. However, the playmaker is reportedly hesitant to commit his long-term future to the Etihad without a clear path back into Pep Guardiola’s starting eleven.

A Dramatic Decline from Premier League Player of the Season

Foden’s current situation stands in stark contrast to the 2023/24 campaign, where he was named the Premier League Player of the Season. Since that peak, his form and market valuation have suffered a precipitous drop, falling from a high of €150m to approximately €80m. The arrival of Rayan Cherki last summer has further complicated Foden’s standing in the squad, pushing him down the pecking order and limiting him to just one start in the club's last eight matches. This lack of involvement was highlighted during the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, where Foden was introduced in the 90th minute—a move Wayne Rooney described as a "charity sub."

Internal Perspectives on a "Huge Dip" in Confidence

Sources within the club have provided insight into the mental hurdles currently facing the 25-year-old. Keith Wyness, a former Premier League CEO and current football consultant, revealed that contacts at Manchester City attribute Foden’s struggles to a profound loss of personal confidence. Wyness suggested that the player may be experiencing "imposter syndrome," where he has begun to doubt the elite abilities that previously made him "bulletproof." These psychological challenges are reportedly linked to difficulties in his personal life, creating a cycle of self-doubt that has fundamentally altered his on-pitch performance.