Liverpool have officially confirmed the departure of defender Nathaniel Phillips, who completed a permanent transfer to West Bromwich Albion on June 26, 2025, marking the end of his 10-year journey at Anfield.
The 28-year-old, affectionately known as the “Bolton Baresi,” leaves the club after 29 first-team appearances, having been a reliable squad player during Liverpool’s trophy-laden era under Jürgen Klopp.
The move, reported to be worth £4 million, has stirred emotional reactions from fans, many of whom have taken to social media to express gratitude and wish Phillips well in his next chapter.
Phillips, who joined Liverpool’s academy from Bolton Wanderers in 2016, became a fan favorite for his no-nonsense defending and clutch performances, notably during the 2020/21 season when injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez thrust him into the spotlight.
His 17 Premier League appearances that year, including a standout display in a 1-0 win over Burnley, helped Liverpool secure Champions League qualification. Phillips’ aerial dominance (78% duel success rate) and 65 clearances in limited minutes showcased his resilience, earning praise from Klopp, who called him “a warrior.”
Loan spells at Stuttgart, Bournemouth, Celtic, and Cardiff City followed, with a permanent move to Derby County collapsing in January 2025 due to a failed medical.
The transfer to West Brom, a Championship side pushing for promotion, offers Phillips regular first-team football, something he struggled to secure at Liverpool amid competition from van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, and new signing Milos Kerkez.
The Reds’ recent £35 million sale of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen and ongoing talks for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi reflect Arne Slot’s defensive overhaul, making Phillips’ exit a pragmatic move. Liverpool’s statement thanked Phillips for his “invaluable contributions” and wished him success, a sentiment echoed by fans on social media.
One supporter posted, “Nat gave everything for the badge—forever a Red,” while another wrote, “Gutted to see him go, but he deserves to start every week.”
Phillips’ departure follows a transformative summer at Liverpool, with £185.5 million spent on Florian Wirtz, Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, and Ármin Pécsi, offset by sales like Quansah and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£8.4m to Real Madrid).
As Slot prepares to defend the Premier League title, Phillips’ exit closes a chapter for a player who embodied Liverpool’s fighting spirit. Fans hope he thrives at West Brom, where he’s expected to bolster their backline in their promotion push.
