Phil Foden was raised in Stockport, England, and comes from a family background rooted in Christian tradition. While he has never publicly spoken in detail about his faith, several biographical sources note that he identifies with Christianity.
Quick Profile: Phil Foden
| Full Name | Philip Walter Foden |
| Date of Birth | 28 May 2000 (age 25) |
| Place of Birth | Stockport, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.71 m) |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed (Reportedly Christian background) |
What religion is Phil Foden?
Phil Foden has never publicly confirmed a religious affiliation. No interviews or official profiles mention his faith, unlike players such as Bryan Mbeumo, who is known to be Muslim, and Erling Haaland, who has spoken about his Christian faith, Foden has not publicly discussed his religion.
He was raised in England and educated at a Catholic-run school (St Bede’s College in Manchester), so some assume he is Christian; indeed, many secondary sources simply list him as a Christian player. However, those are assumptions not based on Foden’s own words. Ahead of Euro 2024 he and partner Rebecca Cooke even visited a psychic for a tarot reading, and the psychic described them as “very spiritual”– again emphasizing spirituality but not naming a specific religion. Without a clear statement from Foden himself, the only factual statement is that his religion is undisclosed.
Early Life
Philip Walter Foden was born on 28 May 2000 in Stockport, Greater Manchester. He grew up a Manchester City fan and joined City’s youth academy at just four years old. City even paid for his schooling; Foden attended St Bede’s College in Manchester on a scholarship. (St Bede’s is a well-known Roman Catholic school, which indicates he was raised in a Catholic educational environment.) As a boy, Foden quickly stood out in City’s youth ranks. He is the son of Phil Foden Sr., a Manchester United supporter who taught him to fish, a hobby that became a lifelong passion for Foden. By his teenage years, Foden was recognized as one of England’s top young football talents.
Career Highlights
Foden burst onto the scene in 2017. That summer he starred for England’s Under-17 team, winning the FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. Just months later he made his senior debut for Manchester City in November 2017 (against Feyenoord). On 6 December 2017, at 17 years and 192 days, he became the youngest English player ever to start a Champions League match. He also became the first player born in the year 2000 to start a Champions League game. Foden’s breakthrough season continued into 2018, he won his first Premier League medal in 2017–18 (City’s record fourth-in-a-row title), becoming the youngest player to receive a Premier League winners’ medal. In domestic cups, he broke records as the youngest to start a Champions League knockout game and played a part in City’s FA Cup and League Cup victories.
Since then Foden has been a key figure for club and country. He has made over 300 appearances for Manchester City and helped the club win 17 major trophies as of 2025. This includes six Premier League titles (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), four League Cups, two FA Cups, a UEFA Champions League (2023) and several Community Shields. In 2023 he was part of the famous continental treble (Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League). Foden has also become an England international, he debuted in September 2020 and has represented England at UEFA Euro 2020 (finalists), the 2022 World Cup, and Euro 2024.
Personal Life
Off the field, Foden is in a long-term relationship with Rebecca Cooke, his childhood sweetheart. The couple have three children, a son (born 2019), a daughter (born 2021), and another child born during Euro 2024. Foden is famously tattooed with “47” and “Ronnie” on his neck in honor of his late grandfather Ronnie, who died at age 47 (the number also became Foden’s jersey number). He is an avid fisherman, a hobby he has enjoyed since childhood. Indeed, Foden once skipped Manchester City’s 2018 title celebrations to go on a pre-planned fishing trip with his father, joking that fishing makes him stand out among players. In interviews he speaks fondly of fatherhood and fishing as his “other great loves” outside football.
Foden also admires former City midfielder David Silva. In 2017 he said, “Silva is my idol, I try to watch what he does and do the same things”. This highlights how he looks up to teammates and seeks to learn from experienced players.
Awards and Honors
With Manchester City, Foden’s honors include multiple domestic and international titles. His trophy cabinet lists six Premier League titles (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), three FA Cups (2019, 2023, 2024), four EFL Cups (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021), plus the 2023 UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup. With England youth teams he won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017.
Individually, Foden has won numerous awards. As a teenager he earned the FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Ball (2017) and BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year (2017). He won the Alan Hardaker Trophy (Man of the Match in the League Cup final) in 2020. More recently he was twice voted Premier League Young Player of the Season (2021, 2022). In 2024 he won both the Premier League Player of the Season and the PFA Players’ Player of the Year awards, capping a season in which he scored 19 Premier League goals.
Earnings
Reports indicate that Phil Foden is among Manchester City’s top earners. According to financial-tracking sites, his gross wage is about £225,000 per week (roughly £11.7 million per year). This places his annual base salary at around £11.7 million (not counting bonuses or endorsements). Over his career to date, his total earnings (before tax) are estimated at around £48.2 million. These figures underline his value at City and make him one of the club’s highest-paid players in the 2024–25 season.
