Phil Foden Must Use His Summer Off To Turn Around His Career

BusinessSportsMoneyPhil Foden Must Use His Summer Off To Turn Around His CareerByGraham Ruthven,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I am a soccer writer based in the United KingdomFollow AuthorMay 27, 2026, 05:10am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Phil Foden of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on May 24, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThomas Tuchel made a number of controversial decisions when picking his England squad for the 2026 World Cup, but Phil Foden’s omission wasn’t one of them. At least not to anyone who watched the attacking midfielder struggle for the duration of the 2025/26 season as a Manchester City player.Foden hasn’t been the same player for a while now. The 25-year-old was the best player in the Premier League as he won the Player of the Season award in the 2023/24 season. Now, he is a shadow of his former self and has been little more than a peripheral figure at the Etihad Stadium over the last few months.LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 07: Phil Foden of England looks dejected after the team's defeat in the international friendly match between England and Iceland at Wembley Stadium on June 07, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe summer off could be good for Foden. He could use this time to prepare for the 2026/27 season when he will have a new manager at club level following the departure of Pep Guardiola from Manchester City. Foden might be better off for not having a World Cup as an England player. “The number of games that he’s been available for has dropped and, when he has been available, it has not been the version of Phil Foden we saw two years ago,” said Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Maheta...