Kyle Walker's Decline: Is the End Near for Manchester City’s Star Right-Back?

The hardest decision for any professional footballer is knowing when to call it a day. For former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, that moment came during a poor performance against West Brom on New Year’s Day in 2011. Fans now refer to moments like these as a “Neville-at-West-Brom” moment—an indication that a player’s time at the top is over.

Manchester City’s Kyle Walker, one of England’s most decorated right-backs, may soon face a similar reality. At 34 years old, the defender’s performances are beginning to show signs of decline, raising questions about his future at the highest level.

Walker has achieved incredible success since joining Manchester City in 2017, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, and even the Champions League. His pace, which once allowed him to recover quickly and shut down opposition attacks, has been a big part of his game. However, as age catches up, that once-dependable speed is fading, exposing vulnerabilities in his defensive play.

Recent matches have showed these issues. Against Fulham and Tottenham, Walker struggled to keep up with faster attackers like Adama Traoré and Timo Werner—situations that would have been unthinkable during his prime. His inability to recover and match their pace allowed opponents to capitalize, contributing to costly mistakes for City.

The defensive lapses were evident again in Manchester City’s recent 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. Walker hesitated to step forward with the defensive line, allowing Daniel Muñoz to beat the offside trap and score Palace’s first goal. Later, he was outmuscled by Maxence Lacroix during a corner, resulting in Palace’s second goal.

These moments of decline are not new. During the Euro 2024 final, Walker was unable to stop key plays from Spain, including their opener and winning goal, which both originated from his side of the pitch.

Despite his struggles, Walker has been forced to play regularly this season due to injuries to key players like John Stones, Nathan Aké, and Rúben Dias. Rico Lewis, who could have shared right-back duties, has often been needed in midfield because of absences there.

The statistics don’t lie. City has won just two of the nine matches Walker has started this season—a win rate of 22%. Without him, they’ve managed nine wins in 13 games, a significantly better 69%. Walker’s individual performances, rated by WhoScored.com, place him as City’s worst player in the Premier League this season, marking his lowest-rated domestic campaign.

His defensive weaknesses are also growing more apparent. He is being dribbled past once per 90 minutes, a career high, and his contributions going forward have diminished, completing just 0.2 dribbles per 90 minutes—another personal low.

With City’s form under scrutiny, the January transfer window offers an opportunity to address the right-back position. Historically, the winter window isn’t used for major signings, but Guardiola may need to make an exception if City wants to stay competitive.

Walker hasn’t reached his “Neville-at-West-Brom” moment yet, but the signs suggest it may not be far away. For a player who has given so much to the game, acknowledging when to step aside will be a defining moment in his career. Whether City finds a replacement in January or not, the clock is ticking on Walker’s time as an undisputed starter for one of Europe’s top teams.