Kyle Walker eyes exit from Manchester City, confirms Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that captain Kyle Walker is seeking to leave the club, expressing his desire to explore opportunities abroad as his career nears its twilight years.

Walker, 34, was omitted from City’s squad during their commanding 8-0 FA Cup victory over Salford on Saturday. Addressing the situation post-match, Guardiola stated:
“In his mind, he would like to explore it, to go to another country, to play the last years [somewhere else] for many reasons. For that reason, I prefer playing other players whose mind is here.”

Since joining City in 2017 from Tottenham in a £50 million transfer, Walker has been integral to the team’s success, contributing to 17 trophies, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory.

Walker was close to a move to Bayern Munich following City’s historic treble win in 2023 but opted instead to sign a contract extension keeping him at the club until 2026. Despite this, speculation about his future has re-emerged, with rumors of a potential move to Saudi Arabia.

Guardiola acknowledged Walker’s invaluable contributions, stating:
“We cannot understand the success we’ve had these years without Kyle. It’s impossible. He arrived eight years ago, and we started to win consistently. But he has said he wants to explore… honestly, I don’t know what is going to happen.”

Walker’s reduced playing time this season—starting only nine Premier League games—has fueled the possibility of his departure as he seeks more regular action elsewhere.