Kyle Andrew Walker (born 28 May 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays at right-back for Premier League club Manchester City, whom he captains, and the England national team. He has been described as England's best-ever right back,[2] and one of the best right backs in the world.[3] Walker is known for his speed, physicality, and ability to read the game.
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:32, 5 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:57, 13 October 2024 (UTC)
Kyle Andrew Walker[4] was born on 28 May 1990[5] in Sheffield, South Yorkshire,[6] and is of Jamaican descent on his father's side.[7] He grew up in the Sharrow area of the city,[8] and attended Porter Croft Infant & Junior School, followed by High Storrs School until 2006.[9]
Walker joined boyhood club Sheffield United[10] 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.[8] In November 2008, he was allowed to join League One club Northampton Town on a one-month loan to gain first-team experience,[11]making his debut on 15 November in a defeat to Oldham Athletic.[12] His one-month loan was later extended into January 2009,[13] before he returned to United, having played nine matches for Northampton.[14]
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.[15] With United losing a number of players to injury in the closing weeks of the season, Walker was included in the starting line-up for the last two matches of the season, making his full league debut for the club on 25 April 2009 against Swansea City.[16] After two outstanding performances he retained his place as Sheffield United entered the Championship play-offs, starting both matches against Preston North Endand the final against Burnley at the end of May 2009.[17][18] By playing in the final, Walker became the youngest Sheffield United player ever to play at Wembley Stadium.[19]
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.[20] While at Sheffield United, he was virtually ever-present at right-backfor 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 Huttonwas loaned out to Sunderland.[21] 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.[22]
At the start of the following season, Walker went out on loan once more signing an initial one-month deal with Queens Park Rangers due to injuries at the club in the right-back position.[23] In mid-October, his loan at QPR was extended until 3 January 2011.[24]
After leaving QPR, Walker joined Tottenham's Premier League rivals Aston Villa on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season.[25] 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.[26] 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.[27] He returned to Tottenham at the end of the 2010–11 season after scoring two goals in 18 appearances for Villa.[28]
On leaving Villa Park, Walker suggested that he would be happy to return to the club the next season,[29] for his first-team opportunities at Tottenham were limited.[30] However, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp had already stated that he did not wish to sell Walker.[31] Walker subsequently agreed to a contract extension at Tottenham until 2016.[32] Walker was chosen in the starting eleven for Tottenham's opening match of the 2011–12 season, away to Manchester United on 22 August 2011.[33] 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.[34] On 22 April 2012, Walker was named as the PFA Young Player of the Year, beating the likes of Sergio Agüero, Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and teammate Gareth Bale to the award, as well as being named in the PFA Team of the Year.[35] On 3 May 2012, Walker was awarded with a new five-year contract, that ran until 2017.[36]
Walker was ever-present in the first half of the2012–13 seasonin the Premier League, with the exception of a 3–0 away victory over Fulham, in which he was an unused substitute.[37]This included playing 90 minutes in the 3–2 win over Manchester United, which was Tottenham's first victory at Old Trafford in 23 years.[38]On 28 October 2013, Walker signed a new contract with Tottenham, keeping him at the club until June 2019.[39]Walker was part of the Tottenham team that lost 2–0 toChelseaon 1 March at Wembley Stadium in the2015 League Cup final.[40]On 20 April 2017, Walker was named at right-back in the PFA Team of the Year for the second time.[41]
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