Kalvin Phillips confirms reason why he snubbed Man Utd transfer to join Man City

Kalvin Phillips has revealed how his love for Leeds prompted him to reject Manchester United this summer.

The England midfielder joined rivals Manchester City in a deal worth £45million after deciding that the bitter enmity between the two Uniteds made it impossible for him to follow in the footsteps of Eric Cantona, Rio Ferdinand and Alan Smith by moving from Elland Road to Old Trafford.

Phillips, 26, said: "Going to United? No, there was never any chance of me going there. You know my loyalty to Leeds. My family as well - they're all Leeds fans. I was honoured that United wanted me, such a big team and one of the biggest teams in the world.

"But no, I had to stay loyal to Leeds and choose to go to the other side of Manchester. It's just the way I am, the way I think and the way I'll always be. I want to be loyal to the people who've given me the biggest opportunity in the world. Leeds were the first team to sign me, I made sure that was one of the main things I'd do."

Leeds fans have never forgiven any player who walked out to cross the Pennines to wear the red shirt of their biggest rivals. Joe Jordan and Gordon McQueen were vilified by the Elland Road fans in the 1970s. And Cantona, Ferdinand and Smith have all felt the fury in the Premier League era.

But there is a growing Yorkshire enclave at the Etihad, with Phillips linking up with England team-mates Sheffield-born Kyle Walker and Barnsley-born John Stones. City's new £51million Norwegian striker Erling Haaland was also born in Leeds when his father Alfie was playing for the club.

Phillips added: "It's been nice to see Erling and speak to him about Leeds and where I'm from and where he was born. He's a big fan of Leeds, so he tells me. But I don't know if he's more Leeds than City though."