- Planet Sport writer
- 14 June 2024
England name 'matured' Kyle Walker as vice-captain for Euro 2024
Kyle Walker has been selected as England vice-captain for Euro 2024.
Kyle Walker is an England international who plays as a right-back for Manchester City.
Walker came through the youth system at boyhood club Sheffield United before leaving to join Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2009.
As part of that deal, though, he was loaned back to the Blades for the 2009/2010 campaign before being recalled by Spurs at the start of February.
Walker also represented Aston Villa, again on loan, before establishing himself for Tottenham and England and earning a big-money move to Manchester City.
At City Walker became a mainstay of Pep Guardiola's side as they swept to glory in the Premier League, domestice cups and Champions League.
He made his international debut in 2011 and has been a regular in England's World Cup and European Championship squads for the next decade.
Academy days
The full-back joined Sheffield United's academy at the age of seven and spent 11 years in the youth system before eventually making his professional debut in January 2009.
At the end of that season, Walker became the youngest-ever Sheffield United player to appear in a match at Wembley Stadium when he was in the starting line-up as a 19-year-old to face Burnley in the Championship play-off final before he signed for Spurs.
Impressive loan spell at Aston Villa
In January 2011, Walker was sent out on loan to Premier League club Aston Villa. He scored just nine minutes into his debut in an FA Cup third round tie, ironically against former club Sheffield United.
Walker later went on to score his first Premier League goal, which was an impressive 30-yard strike against Fulham at the beginning of February.
He made 18 appearances for the club overall before returning to parent club Tottenham Hotspur, where he went on to establish himself as their first choice right-back.
Winning PFA Young Player of the Year 2011/2012
Walker had an absolutely stellar individual season in the 2011/2012 campaign. The right-back scored his first goal for Tottenham Hotspur - the winner in a 2-1 triumph over North London rivals Arsenal at White Hart Lane.
He also beat the likes of Gareth Bale and Sergio Aguero to the PFA Young Player of the Year award, as well as being named in the PFA Team of the Year in what was a real breakthrough season for him.
Being named in PFA Team of the Year 2016/2017
Walker's final season in a Spurs shirt was another very impressive one, culminating in him being named as the right-back in the PFA Team of the Year for the second time in his career.
The Sheffield-born man racked up a total of five assists for his team-mates as they went close to winning the Premier League title, only finishing in 2nd place to London rivals Chelsea.
However, it was his eye-catching individual campaign which earned him a £45million move to league rivals Manchester City.
Silverware won at Manchester City
Walker moved to Manchester City in July 2017 and has since established himself as a key part of the team, winning six Premier League titles, four League Cups and two FA Cups.
He was part of Manchester City's continental Treble winning side that lifted the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the 2022/23 season.
The full-back has played a huge part in all of these triumphs and as of 2021 has never failed to make less than 30 appearances in a single season since joining the club.
After nearly joining Bayern Munich in 2023, Walker signed a new deal with City until 2026 and was named captain of the side.
International career
Walker's first sniff at international football was when he was a surprise call-up to England's under-19s squad in February 2009 despite never making a league appearance for Sheffield United.
His debut came as a substitute in a 3-0 defeat to Spain.
The right-back was then picked for the squad to compete at the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Despite England crashing out in the group-stages, Walker was still named in the Team of the Tournament.
On 12 November, 2011, Walker made his senior debut for the national team when coming on as an 85th-minute substitute in a 1-0 victory over Spain in a friendly at Wembley Stadium.
Walker was forced to miss Euro 2012 due to an ill-timed toe injury, be he was picked to be in the squad at both Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, where he made a combined eight appearances across the two competitions for the Three Lions.
He also made Gareth Southgate's Euro 2020 squad and was the most-capped player to be called up.
Walker starred at Euro 2020 for England, who reached the final with the former Tottenham man sometimes playing right back and sometimes centre back.
He started every game for the Three Lions, although was substituted before the fateful penalty shootout that handed Italy the title.
In September 2023, Walker scored his first England goal in a 1-1 draw with Ukraine in the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
Walker was selected for Southgate's Euro 2024 squad and, despite reaching the final, was the only England player to be named in UEFA’s official team of the tournament.
He started each of England’s seven games as they reached the final, losing 2-1 to Spain.
He played a key role in keeping England in the tournament in the last 16, setting up Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick with his long throw into the area, but has faced criticism for a throw-in in the final where he chose to go backwards to fellow City defender John Stones at a time when England had just equalised and were on the front foot.
Personal life
Walker was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire and is of Jamaican descent. He went to school at both Porter Craft Infant & Junior School before attending High Storrs.
He was engaged to Annie Kilner before they broke up in March 2019. The former couple have four children, three are sons called Riaan, Kairo and Roman.
He also has two children with influencer Laury.
Net worth
Walker's net worth is believed to be around £25 million.
