Nathaniel Harry "Nat" Phillips (born 21 March 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for club West Bromwich Albion.
Phillips started his professional career at Liverpool, had two loan spells at VfB Stuttgart, before making his debut for Liverpool in 2020. After his Liverpool debut, he had further loan spells at AFC Bournemouth, Celtic, Cardiff City and Derby County.
Nathaniel PhillipsÃÂ was born on 21 March 1997 in Bolton, Greater Manchester.
In 2016, Phillips left Bolton Wanderers' academy and trained at Huddersfield Town after he secured a scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Two days before his planned flight to the United States, he joined Liverpool's academy instead.
In the summer of 2018, Phillips started to train with Liverpool's first team and became a member of Jürgen Klopp's squad while still playing for the reserve team.
In 2019, Phillips moved to German second-division club VfB Stuttgart on loan for the season. He made his professional debut for Stuttgart in the first round of the 2019âÂÂ20 DFB-Pokal, coming on as a half-time substitute for Holger Badstuber in the away match against 3. Liga club Hansa Rostock. Phillips made his first appearance in the 2019âÂÂ20 2. Bundesliga on 17 August 2019 against FC St. Pauli. On 27 December 2019, Liverpool announced that Phillips would be recalled from his loan on 1 January 2020 due to a defender injury crisis at his parent club. Twelve days later, after making his first team debut for Liverpool on 5 January 2020 in an FA Cup third round match against Everton, he was loaned back to VfB Stuttgart for the remainder of the 2019âÂÂ20 season.
On 31 October 2020, Phillips made his league debut for Liverpool, starting in a 2âÂÂ1 win over West Ham United. On 10 March 2021, Phillips made his Champions League debut, putting in a man of the match performance in a 2âÂÂ0 win over RB Leipzig, and helping Liverpool advance to the quarter finals 4âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
Phillips scored his first goal for the club on 19 May 2021, scoring a headed goal and Liverpool's second of the game during a 3âÂÂ0 away win over Burnley in the Premier League and claimed another man of the match award, this was his only goal for the club. The following season, Phillips played in Liverpool's 2âÂÂ1 win against AC Milan at the San Siro to complete the Champions League group stage with six wins. Days later it was revealed Phillips suffered a fractured cheekbone during the game. With game time limited in the 2021âÂÂ22 season, Phillips admitted to being ready to leave the club in the January transfer window.
On 31 January 2022, Phillips joined AFC Bournemouth on loan until the end of the season. Regarding the move, Klopp commented that "he would have loved to have kept him [at Liverpool]" and that Phillips was "incredibly reliable [and a] great figure here at the training ground." He made his debut for the club in the FA Cup on 6 February in a 1âÂÂ0 loss to non-league side Boreham Wood. Phillips made his league debut for the club, and his first appearance in the Championship, in a 3âÂÂ1 victory against Birmingham City on 9 February.
On 31 August 2023, Phillips joined Scottish Premiership side Celtic on loan until January 2024. He made his league debut for the club in a 3âÂÂ0 win against Dundee on 16 September. On 4 October, Phillips made his Champions League debut for Celtic in a 2âÂÂ1 loss against Lazio on 4 October. After struggling to break into the first team at Celtic, he was recalled back to Liverpool in January.
On 30 January 2024, Phillips joined EFL Championship club Cardiff City, on loan for the remainder of the 2023âÂÂ24 season. He made his league debut for the club on 3 February in a 1âÂÂ0 win against Watford.
On 30 August 2024, Phillips joined EFL Championship club Derby County, on loan for the remainder of the 2024âÂÂ25 season. Derby head coach Paul Warne stated that his signing would give him "greater tactical flexibility" in team selection. Phillips made his Derby debut against former loan club Cardiff City on 14 September 2024. He made his first start for Derby at Sunderland on 1 October 2024. Phillips scored his first goal for Derby in a 1âÂÂ0 win at Hull City on 26 April 2025. Under new head coach John Eustace, Phillips impressed with his performance in a central defensive trio alongside Matt Clarke and Sondre LangÃÂ¥s as Derby managed to escape relegation to League One, Phillips played 33 times for Derby during his loan spell and Eustace stated a desire for the player to return for the 2025âÂÂ26 season.
On 23 June 2025, Phillips signed for Championship side West Bromwich Albion on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. Nathaniel Phillips made his debut for West Bromwich Albion against Blackburn Rovers on 9th August 2025. His first goal for West Bromwich came on the 30th August 2025, as he scored in a 0-1 win over Stoke City.
Nathaniel is the son of former footballer Jimmy Phillips and played under his management in the Bolton Wanderers academy.
Since early 2022, Phillips has been dating Molly Moorish-Gallagher, the daughter of Lisa Moorish and Liam Gallagher. In May 2025, Phillips and Moorish-Gallagher announced that they were expecting their first child. Their son was born in September 2025.