Former Man City captain Kyle Walker says trophies cannot be taken away
Former Manchester City captain Kyle Walker has insisted that the club’s historic achievements cannot be erased, following the seismic verdict in the Premier League’s financial charges case. The defender spent eight trophy-laden years at the Etihad Stadium, establishing himself as a key figure in one of English football’s most dominant eras.
Speaking on talkSPORT, in a report carried by the Manchester Evening News, the full-back spoke out about the independent commission’s ruling and the subsequent appeal process. It represents the first time the high-profile defender has publicly addressed the massive controversy surrounding his former employers.
The independent commission recently ruled that City utilized over £830million in funding from the owner to artificially boost their revenues. This allegedly allowed them to comply with domestic and European financial regulations using what were described as “sham” deals across a nine-year timeframe, a decision which the club has officially appealed.
Walker, who was a cornerstone of the club’s dominant era under Pep Guardiola, acknowledged the gravity of the situation but remained cautious about discussing the ongoing legal battle. He admitted that the optics surrounding the ruling are far from ideal for anyone associated with the club.
Walker cautious over legal battle
Speaking to talkSPORT, Walker said:
“Obviously it doesn’t look great. I know it’s in an appeal stage so, for me to start commenting on the legal action and everything like that, probably it’s not going to do myself justice or anyone involved in it,”
Instead of focusing on the courtroom battle, the England international chose to highlight the incredible memories shared by the players on the pitch. He believes that the emotions and experiences of those trophy-winning campaigns remain untouched by legal proceedings.
Reflecting on his time at the Etihad Stadium, Walker added:
“But, at a personal level, I can say the lads, we spent many and many a great year celebrating many trophies… they can’t take away from us because we’ve experienced them nights.”
A difficult topic for former players
During his highly successful eight-year spell with the Manchester club between 2017 and 2025, Walker secured the Champions League and 12 domestic honours. However, his departure was far from smooth, as he left on loan for AC Milan during a turbulent 2024-25 campaign before signing for Burnley, who suffered relegation to the Championship last term.
The full-back admitted that discussing the financial allegations is uncomfortable for the players who achieved glory on the pitch. They want their achievements to be respected and viewed as legitimate triumphs earned through hard work rather than financial manipulation.
Addressing the awkwardness surrounding the topic, Walker explained:
“It’s something that we probably don’t want to talk about because we want to be looked upon as winning them trophies, winning them the right way.”
The fans deserve their nights
Walker also emphasized that the supporters played a massive role in those triumphs and deserve to cherish those memories regardless of the legal outcome. He pointed to the famous Champions League victory in Istanbul as a prime example of the bond between the squad and the fanbase.
Expressing his sympathy for the supporters, Walker said:
“It’s very difficult because we’ve worked very hard for them, and not just us, I look at the fans as well.”
With the appeal process now underway, the football world awaits the final resolution of a case that could redefine the modern history of English football. For Walker and his former teammates, the hope remains that their on-field exploits will not be overshadowed by off-field battles.
