Nat Phillips
 Phillips training with VfB Stuttgart in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nathaniel Harry Phillips | ||
| Date of birth | 21 March 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Bolton, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.90 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back[2] | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Derby County (on loan from Liverpool) | ||
| Number | 12 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 200?–2016 | Bolton Wanderers | ||
| 2016–2019 | Liverpool | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019– | Liverpool | 19 | (1) |
| 2019–2020 | → VfB Stuttgart (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2020 | → VfB Stuttgart (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| 2022 | → AFC Bournemouth (loan) | 17 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Celtic (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Cardiff City (loan) | 18 | (1) |
| 2024– | → Derby County (loan) | 15 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 December 2024 (UTC) | |||
Nathaniel Harry "Nat" Phillips (born 21 March 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL Championship club Derby County, on loan from Premier League club Liverpool.
Early life
[edit]Nathaniel Harry Phillips[3] was born on 21 March 1997[4] in Bolton, Greater Manchester.[5]
Career
[edit]Early career
[edit]In 2016, Phillips left Bolton Wanderers' academy and trained at Huddersfield Town after he secured a scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.[6] Two days before his planned flight to the United States, he joined Liverpool's academy instead.[7][8]
Liverpool
[edit]In the summer of 2018, Phillips started to train with Liverpool's first team and became a member of Jürgen Klopp's squad while still playing for the reserve team.[9]
VfB Stuttgart loan and Liverpool recall
[edit]In 2019, Phillips moved to German second-division club VfB Stuttgart on loan for the season.[10][11] He made his professional debut for Stuttgart in the first round of the 2019–20 DFB-Pokal, coming on as a half-time substitute for Holger Badstuber in the away match against 3. Liga club Hansa Rostock.[12] Phillips made his first appearance in the 2019–20 2. Bundesliga on 17 August 2019 against FC St. Pauli.[13] On 27 December 2019, Liverpool announced that Phillips would be recalled from his loan on 1 January 2020 due to a defender injury crisis at his parent club.[14] Twelve days later, after making his first team debut for Liverpool on 5 January 2020 in an FA Cup third round match against Everton, he was loaned back to VfB Stuttgart for the remainder of the 2019–20 season.[15][16]
Return to Liverpool
[edit]On 31 October 2020, Phillips made his league debut for Liverpool, starting in a 2–1 win over West Ham United.[17][18] On 10 March 2021, Phillips made his Champions League debut, putting in a man of the match performance in a 2–0 win over RB Leipzig, and helping Liverpool advance to the quarter finals 4–0 on aggregate.[19]
Phillips scored his first goal for the club on 19 May 2021, scoring a headed goal and Liverpool's second of the game during a 3–0 away win over Burnley in the Premier League and claimed another man of the match award.[20] The following season, Phillips played in Liverpool's 2–1 win against AC Milan at the San Siro to complete the Champions League group stage with six wins.[21] Days later it was revealed Phillips suffered a fractured cheekbone during the game.[22] With game time limited in the 2021–22 season, Phillips admitted to being ready to leave the club in the January transfer window.[23]
AFC Bournemouth (loan)
[edit]On 31 January 2022, Phillips joined AFC Bournemouth on loan until the end of the season.[24] Regarding the move, Klopp commented that "he would have loved to have kept him [at Liverpool]" and that Phillips was "incredibly reliable [and a] great figure here at the training ground."[25] He made his debut for the club in the FA Cup on 6 February in a 1–0 loss to non-league side Boreham Wood.[26] Phillips made his league debut for the club, and his first appearance in the Championship, in a 3–1 victory against Birmingham City on 9 February.[27]
Celtic (loan)
[edit]On 31 August 2023, Phillips joined Scottish Premiership side Celtic on loan until January 2024.[28] He made his league debut for the club in a 3–0 win against Dundee on 16 September.[29] On 4 October, Phillips made his Champions League debut for Celtic in a 2–1 loss against Lazio on 4 October.[30] After struggling to break into the first team at Celtic, he was recalled back to Liverpool in January.[31]
Cardiff City (loan)
[edit]On 30 January 2024, Phillips joined EFL Championship club Cardiff City, on loan for the remainder of the 2023–24 season.[32] He made his league debut for the club on 3 February in a 1–0 win against Watford.
Derby County (loan)
[edit]On 30 August 2024, Phillips joined EFL Championship club Derby County, on loan for the remainder of the 2024–25 season.[33] Derby head coach Paul Warne stated that his signing would give him "greater tactical flexibility" in team selection.[34] Phillips made his Derby debut against former loan club Cardiff City on 14 September 2024.[35] He made his first start for Derby at Sunderland on 1 October 2024.[36]
Personal life
[edit]Nathaniel is the son of former footballer Jimmy Phillips and played under his management in the Bolton Wanderers academy.[37]
Since early 2022, Phillips has been dating Molly Moorish, the daughter of Lisa Moorish and Liam Gallagher.[38]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 20 December 2024[39]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Liverpool | 2019–20 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | Premier League | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | |
| 2021–22 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 19 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 1 | ||
| VfB Stuttgart (loan) | 2019–20 | 2. Bundesliga | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 22 | 0 | |||
| Liverpool U21 | 2021–22 | — | — | — | — | 1[b] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| AFC Bournemouth (loan) | 2021–22 | Championship | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| Celtic (loan) | 2023–24 | Scottish Premiership | 6 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |||
| Cardiff City (loan) | 2023–24 | Championship | 18 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 1 | ||||
| Derby County (loan) | 2024–25 | Championship | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 94 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 111 | 2 | ||
- ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- ^ Appearance in EFL Trophy
References
[edit]- ^ "Nathaniel Phillips: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ "Nathaniel Phillips: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ "Updated squad lists for 2022/23 Premier League". Premier League. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
- ^ "Nathaniel Phillips: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Nathaniel Phillips". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ "Phillips turns down U.S. college scholarship for shot with Liverpool". ESPN. 12 March 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- ^ "How Liverpool youngster came back from the brink to seal dream move to Reds". Liverpool Echo. 12 March 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- ^ "Bolton Wanderers Youngster Nat Phillips Joins Liverpool". The Lion Of Vienna Suite. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ^ "Liverpool's 'hidden' pre-season star". Daily Mirror. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- ^ "Nathaniel Phillips signs new Liverpool contract and joins Stuttgart on loan". Liverpool F.C. 7 August 2019.
- ^ "VfB sign Liverpool defender Phillips". vfb.de. VfB Stuttgart. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
- ^ "Hansa Rostock – VfB Stuttgart 0:1 (DFB-Pokal 2019/2020, 1. Round)". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- ^ "VfB Stuttgart – FC St. Pauli 2:1". dfb.de. German Football Association. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
- ^ "Nat Phillips returns from Stuttgart loan". Liverpool FC. 27 December 2019.
- ^ "Nathaniel Phillips returns to Stuttgart on loan". Liverpool F.C. 13 January 2020.
- ^ "Reds were 'sensationally good' - Klopp". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Liverpool go top after Jota winner". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "Who is Phillips, Liverpool's man thrown in the deep end?". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Liverpool cruise into quarters as Sadio Mané and Salah cut down Leipzig again". Guardian. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "Liverpool into top four after Burnley win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- ^ "Liverpool beat Milan for perfect group stage record". BBC. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ "Nat Phillips set for spell out with cheekbone fracture". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ "Nat Phillips reveals he wants to leave Liverpool in January due to a lack of game time". Sky Sports. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ "AFC BOURNEMOUTH COMPLETE SIGNING OF NAT PHILLIPS". AFC Bournemouth. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ "Jurgen Klopp: I would've loved to have kept Nat Phillips". Daily Echo. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ "AFC Bournemouth 0–1 Boreham Wood". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ "AFC Bournemouth 3–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ "Nat Phillips joins Celtic on a loan that would be evaluated in January 2024". Liverpool FC. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ "Leaders Celtic ease to victory over stubborn Dundee". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Champions League: Heartbreak for Celtic as Pedro strikes at death". BBC Sport. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Liverpool to recall Phillips from Celtic loan". tribal football. 31 December 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ^ "Cardiff sign Liverpool defender Phillips on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "Derby sign Phillips and Harness on loan". BBC Sport. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ "What Paul Warne told Nat Phillips in Derby County transfer call amid 'brilliant' Liverpool admission". Derby Telegraph. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "MATCH REPORT: Derby County 1-0 Cardiff City". Derby County F.C. 14 September 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "Paul Warne springs quartet of surprises as he names Derby County team to face Sunderland". Derby Telegraph. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "Decade XI: Remembering those we never saw". 17 December 2019.
- ^ "Nat Phillips opens up on life as Liam Gallagher's 'ideal' son-in-law after sealing Liverpool transfer". Liverpool Echo. 14 September 2023.
- ^ "N. Phillips". Soccerway. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
External links
[edit]
- Profile at the Liverpool F.C. website
- Nat Phillips – UEFA competition record (archive)
- 1997 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Bolton
- English men's footballers
- Men's association football defenders
- Bolton Wanderers F.C. players
- Liverpool F.C. players
- VfB Stuttgart players
- AFC Bournemouth players
- Celtic F.C. players
- Cardiff City F.C. players
- Derby County F.C. players
- 2. Bundesliga players
- Premier League players
- English Football League players
- Scottish Professional Football League players
- English expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
- English expatriate sportspeople in Germany
- People educated at Bolton School
- 21st-century English sportsmen