Manchester City Captain Kyle Walker willing to leave the side? Check details

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola confirmed on Saturday that club captain Kyle Walker has expressed his desire to leave the club in order to explore opportunities abroad. The 34-year-old defender has been a key figure for the English champions since his arrival from Tottenham Hotspur in 2017 for a transfer fee of £50 million ($61 million). Over the course of his six-year stint with City, Walker has accumulated an impressive 15 major trophies, including six Premier League titles, five FA Cups, and multiple League Cups. His leadership on and off the pitch has made him a stalwart in the squad, and his experience has been pivotal in City’s domestic and international successes.

Despite his monumental success at the Etihad Stadium, Walker has now decided it’s time to seek new challenges. Guardiola acknowledged the situation, stating that while the club would have liked him to stay, they respected Walker’s decision to pursue a new adventure. His departure would mark the end of an era for City, with Walker having been a consistent presence in the team and a key part of their defensive unit. It remains to be seen where the England international will head next, but his next move will undoubtedly attract significant interest given his pedigree and achievements at one of the world’s most successful clubs.

"Two days ago Kyle asked to explore the options to play abroad and end his career. In his mind, he would like to explore it, to go to another country, to play the last years (somewhere else) for many reasons," said Pep Guardiola in a recent interview. 

Pep Guardiola revealed that Kyle Walker had initially requested to leave Manchester City at the start of the 2023/24 season, with Bayern Munich showing interest at the time. However, Walker was convinced to remain at City and subsequently signed a new contract that would keep him at the club until 2026. The England international, who has earned 93 caps for his country, has been a key figure in recent years, playing an integral role in the Three Lions' campaigns in the last two European Championship finals. However, his struggles with form and fitness have contributed to Manchester City's disappointing season so far.

City's struggles have been evident, particularly in the period between October 30 and December 29, where they won just one out of 13 matches. This slump has seen them fall out of the Premier League title race and exit the League Cup. Despite his leadership and achievements, Walker’s decline in form, combined with City’s overall struggles, has prompted the player to seek new opportunities abroad.