Phil Foden’s numbers show adaptation rather than decline

These numbers do not reflect a player in decline, but rather one in a transitional phase of his career.

That adaptation is perhaps most clearly reflected in where Phil Foden is receiving the ball. In 2023/24, he recorded 201 touches in the opposition box – placing him in the 91st percentile, highlighting his role as a consistent final-third threat. This season, that figure has dropped significantly to 80 (73rd percentile), a decline that directly correlates with his reduced goal output.

Since 2024, the arrivals of Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Antoine Semenyo, Omar Marmoush, and Savinho have redistributed responsibility in the final third. Where Foden was once a focal point, he is now part of a broader, more varied attacking unit.

Context matters here. During his standout 2023/24 campaign, both Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri missed significant periods, naturally increasing Phil Foden’s influence in advanced areas. This season, with greater depth and availability, his role has shifted – often operating deeper, predominantly within the second third rather than consistently occupying high attacking positions. And still, the output beyond goals remains elite.

For England, Foden’s impact in World Cup qualifiers reinforces that point. Operating with control and efficiency, he ranks in the 98th percentile for passing accuracy (92.5%), has been dispossessed just once across four matches, and is averaging an assist every other game. It is a profile built on security, creativity, and intelligence  rather than end product.

In 2023/24, Foden ranked in the 98th percentile for goals (19), 96th for shots (105), and 95th for chances created (73). Those are the metrics of a high-volume attacker. By contrast, 2025/26 reflects a player contributing across phases — progressing play, creating opportunities, and supporting defensive structure.

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Crucially, his reduced goal involvement does not necessarily indicate regression. Instead, it reflects a redistribution of attacking burden. With multiple players now capable of delivering in decisive moments, Foden has not been required to dominate output in the same way.

This raises an interesting question heading into next season; does Foden lean further into this all-action, Bernardo Silva-like role, one defined by control, intelligence, and tactical flexibility? Or does he reassert himself as a primary goal contributor, competing within a crowded attacking unit to replicate his most productive campaign?

The answer may ultimately define how he is perceived.

Because if evaluation is limited to goals and assists alone, the nuance of his current role is lost. Players like Bernardo Silva have long demonstrated that influence extends far beyond raw output and Foden is increasingly operating within that same framework.

At 25-years-old, with both elite production and elite control already demonstrated, Phil Foden’s trajectory remains firmly upward.

If anything, the numbers suggest his best, in whatever form that takes, may still lie ahead. And perhaps more importantly, much of the criticism surrounding his current output says less about his performances, and more about a broader misunderstanding of what is being asked of him within this Manchester City side.