Shaun Wright-Phillips never wanted to leave Manchester City, but circumstances forced him to move to Chelsea in 2005. The decision was an emotional one for him—he even cried during his journey to London. Having grown up playing for City, he had a deep love for the club, its fans, and the city itself.
The son of Arsenal legend Ian Wright, Shaun began his career at Nottingham Forest’s academy before joining Manchester City. He became a key player at the club and earned a spot on the England team. However, due to financial difficulties, City had to sell him. Although Arsenal initially showed interest, they wanted to delay their move until January, and Shaun, happy at City, wasn’t considering leaving.
Chelsea stepped in with a £21 million offer, which City accepted. Shaun later revealed that while he didn’t want to leave, he wasn’t given much of a choice. Months after the transfer, he discovered the club had sold him to avoid financial crisis. Until then, he had no idea of City’s financial struggles.
At Chelsea, Shaun had a slow start but went on to win the Premier League in his first season and the FA Cup in his second. He played 125 games for the club before returning to Manchester City in 2008. Meanwhile, Arsenal, instead of waiting for Shaun, signed Theo Walcott from Southampton, who went on to have a successful career with the Gunners.
Shaun always maintained that he wanted to stay at City, the club where he spent most of his career and formed a strong bond. Now, his son, D’Margio Wright-Phillips, carries on the family’s football tradition. D’Margio, also a winger, began his career at Stoke City and currently plays for the Belgian team Beerschot.
Despite the unexpected twists in Shaun’s career, he achieved notable success in football and left a lasting legacy.
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