Man City's Phillips joins West Ham on loan until end of season

(Reuters) - Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips has joined West Ham United on loan until the end of the season, the Premier League club said on Friday.

Details of the deal were not disclosed by either club but British media reported that there is no option to buy clause included for the 28-year-old, who had four years remaining in his contract with City.

"I'm really pleased to be here," Phillips said.

"There's always been a lot of speculation about me moving to West Ham, so I'm really excited to get going now."

The England international joined City from Leeds United in the 2022 close-season for around 45 million pounds ($57.20 million) but was sidelined due to a shoulder injury.

Phillips fell down the pecking order after being criticized by manager Pep Guardiola for returning overweight from the World Cup, making only four league appearances as a substitute this season.

The defensive midfielder is vying for a spot in the final England squad for the Euros in five months, and regular playing time at West Ham could help him stay on manager Gareth Southgate's radar.