Kyle Walker

Kyle Andrew Walker (born 28 May 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back for club Manchester City and the England national team.

Considered one of the best full backs of his generation, Walker is known for his pace, strength and vision.

Walker started his career at his boyhood club Sheffield United at the age of seven.

He made his first-team debut aged 18 after a loan spell at Northampton Town.

Kyle Andrew Walker was born on 28 May 1990 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, and is of Jamaican descent.

He grew up in the Sharrow area of the city, and attended Porter Croft Infant & Junior School, followed by High Storrs School until 2006.

Walker joined boyhood club Sheffield United at the age of seven after being recommended by coach Paul Archer at Football Unites, Racism Divides.

Walker progressed through the ranks to become a regular fixture in the reserve team by 2008.

In November 2008, he was allowed to join League One club Northampton Town on a one-month loan to gain first-team experience, making his debut on 15 November 2008 in a defeat by Oldham Athletic.

His one-month loan was later extended into January, before he eventually returned to Bramall Lane having played nine matches for the Cobblers.

He impressed whilst playing for United and played in the 2009 Championship play-off final.

His performances earned him a move to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, before being immediately loaned back to Sheffield United.

After further loan spells at Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa, Walker cemented his place in Tottenham's first team.

Soon after returning to United, Walker made his first-team debut for the club on 13 January 2009, starting in a third round FA Cup tie against Leyton Orient.

With the Blades losing a number of players to injury in the closing weeks of the season, Walker was a surprise inclusion in the starting line up for the crucial last two matches of the season, making his full league debut for the club on 25 April 2009 against Swansea City.

After two outstanding performances he retained his place as Sheffield United entered the play-offs, starting both matches against Preston North End and the final against Burnley at the end of May 2009.

By playing in the final, Walker became the youngest Sheffield United player ever to play at Wembley Stadium.

On 22 July 2009, Walker signed for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, along with fellow Sheffield United player Kyle Naughton, for a combined fee of £9 million.

Walker was loaned back to United for the duration of the 2009–10 season as part of the deal.

While at Bramall Lane he was virtually ever-present at right back for the first half of the season but was unexpectedly recalled by Tottenham on 1 February 2010, just before the close of the January 2010 transfer window, after Alan Hutton was loaned out to Sunderland.

Walker made his debut for Tottenham on 27 March, in a 2–0 victory over Portsmouth and went on to make one more league appearance that season.

At the start of the following season, Walker went out on loan once more signing an initial six-month deal with Queens Park Rangers (QPR) due to injuries at the club in the right-back position.

After leaving QPR, Walker joined Tottenham's Premier League rivals Aston Villa on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season.

He returned to Tottenham at the end of the 2010–11 season after scoring two goals in 18 appearances for Villa.

On leaving Villa Park, Walker suggested that he would be happy to return to the club the next season, for his first-team opportunities at Tottenham were limited.

However, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp had already stated that he did not wish to sell Walker.

He has been named in the PFA Team of the Year three times, in the 2011–12, 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons.

Walker played for England at under-19 and under-21 levels before making his debut for the senior national team in September 2011.

In mid-October, his loan was extended until 3 January 2011.

He scored on his debut only nine minutes into the match against former club Sheffield United in the third round of the FA Cup in January 2011.

At the start of February, Walker scored his first Premier League goal and first senior league goal, a 30-yard shot into the bottom left corner of the goal against Fulham.

Walker was chosen in the starting eleven for Tottenham's opening match of the 2011–12 season, against Manchester United at Old Trafford on 22 August 2011.

On 2 October, he scored the winning goal in the North London derby against Arsenal from 25-yards out.

Tottenham won the match 2–1.

He was part of Tottenham team coached by Mauricio Pochettino that finished runner-ups in the 2016–17 Premier League and 2014–15 League Cup.

He has represented England at two UEFA European Championships, in 2016 and 2020, and at two FIFA World Cups, in 2018 and 2022.

Walker subsequently agreed to a contract extension at Tottenham until 2016.

Walker joined Manchester City in 2017 for a fee of £45 million.

Throughout his City career, he has been coached by Pep Guardiola.

Whilst at City, he has won five Premier League titles, four EFL Cups, two FA Cups, and a UEFA Champions League in 2023 as part of a continental treble.