Is Phil Foden Finished at Manchester City?

Within the last two months, Phil Foden has made more starts at Wembley than the Etihad Stadium. They have all, however, reached a familiar and sad ending, with the Manchester City and England midfielder being substituted after a hugely disappointing individual performance.

If Foden's last two displays at the home of football while on international duty in March spelt bad news for his hope of going to the World Cup, his drab display for Manchester City against Southampton in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final has cast doubt on his long-term future at the club where he has spent most of his life and become one of their greatest-ever players at the age of 25.

The prospect of Foden leaving City was unthinkable two years ago when he fired them to their fourth consecutive Premier League title with 19 goals and eight assists, deservedly scooping all the domestic Player of the Season awards in the process. It even seemed highly unlikely four months ago, when he scored five goals in three games and Pep Guardiola declared he was "back" after his struggles on and off the pitch the previous season.

But the boy who joined City at eight years old and who Guardiola declared 'the most talented player he had ever coached' is in the midst of yet another slump at a critical stage of his career for club and country, and thus a life-changing decision might need to be made.

Foden was given a rousing reception from City supporters when he was taken off by Guardiola for Savinho in the 58th minute at the weekend, but it seemed to be more of a display of empathy than gratitude from those who travelled to Wembley. Foden had done next to nothing against Championship opponents, while Savinho instantly created more danger when he replaced him.

It was, unfortunately, a performance that was in keeping with Foden's form in 2026. He has failed to score in his last 24 appearances for City, contributing just one assist in that period. The match against Southampton was his first start for City in seven weeks, and that he was selected while the likes of Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, Antoine Semenyo, Bernardo Silva and Marc Guehi began the game on the bench was just the latest reminder that he has been confined to the fringes of Guardiola’s squad, only rolled out when the coach wants to rest his very best players.

Foden was an unused substitute against Liverpool in the league back in February and only got five minutes off the bench in the recent title showdown with Arsenal. In the Carabao Cup final against the Gunners, meanwhile, he was only brought on in added time.

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The last time Foden started against a ‘Big Six’ opponent was in the derby at Manchester United in January, when he was taken off at half-time for Rayan Cherki. The France international has since usurped Foden as City’s main attacking midfielder over the last few months, but Guardiola opted to start them together at Wembley. It didn’t work, with Foden repeatedly getting in Cherki’s way and looking stunted while the £34 million summer signing dictated City’s play, albeit with limited success.

Cherki was seen as the replacement for Kevin De Bruyne when he arrived from Lyon, but he appears to have taken Foden’s place as well. When Guardiola was asked about Foden slipping out of the starting XI earlier this month, he directly compared him to the French maverick, and made it clear that time waits for no one in this ultra-competitive City team, not even their favourite son from Stockport.

"Cherki has been amazing. Phil plays in more or less that position and has to challenge with Rayan," Guardiola said. "There’s the Wayne Rooneys and this type of player who have been 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 years all the time incredible over an 11-month season. The rest, sometimes [a dip in form] happens. They don’t have to be worried, but they have to take it as a challenge.

"All the titles we have won, Phil was there and he’s been important in that. But it happens, [you have to think] 'Okay, I have to challenge my team-mates who came from abroad and want to prove themselves in the Premier League and make a name for themselves'."