Nat Phillips Departs Liverpool Two-and-a-Half Years After Final Reds Appearance

Liverpool defender Nat Phillips has officially transferred to West Bromwich Albion, concluding a nine-year chapter on Merseyside.

At 28 years old, Phillips made 29 senior appearances for the Reds, though much of his time was spent on loan. He has signed a three-year deal with the Championship side.

Last season, Nat Phillips was on loan at Derby County, playing a key role in helping the Rams avoid relegation. He has previously had short stints with Bournemouth and Cardiff in the Championship as well.

His career also took him to Scotland with Celtic and to Germany with Stuttgart. The last time he played for Liverpool was in January 2023.

Nat Phillips earned cult hero status at Anfield, particularly for his contributions to securing Champions League qualification in the 2020-21 season. With Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, and Joe Gomez out with injuries, he became Jurgen Klopp’s most seasoned centre-back. He was even elected the club’s Player of the Month in March 2020 as a result of his outstanding achievements.

The Premier League winners thanked Phillips for his achievements and wished him well in his future undertakings in a statement posted on their website.

West Brom’s sporting director, Andrew Nestor, commented that Phillips will provide “valuable experience” to a team that finished ninth last season. He expressed confidence that Nat Phillips’ leadership qualities would enhance their already strong defense.

“Nat will bolster an already strong back line and brings with him leadership qualities, which really stood out for us,” he mentioned on the club’s website. “We believe he is entering his peak years as a centre-back and hope to see him develop even further with us here as a player and leader within our group.”

Nat Phillips shared his excitement about the move, stating, “I think everyone at the club would like to see us competing for promotion and pushing for Premier League football – and that’s the same for me. After having several loans over the past few years, it’s nice for me and my family to settle somewhere and build a relationship with the club and the fans.”