“I Can’t Change the Past, but I Can Try Now,” Says the City Star – Leaving One Key Detail Deliberately Unrevealed
Phil Foden, the 25-year-old Manchester City and England superstar, has stunned the football world by gifting his three children a £7.8 million mansion in Prestbury, Cheshire’s “Golden Triangle,” in what he calls a heartfelt apology for years of absence while chasing trophies. The sprawling six-bedroom estate, complete with indoor pool, cinema room, and 12-car garage, was transferred into a trust for Ronnie (6), True (3), and newborn daughter Ivy last week, with Foden admitting: “I can’t change the past, but I can try now.” Yet the Stockport-born midfielder has deliberately left one critical detail unrevealed, sparking fevered speculation among fans and media alike.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Foden opened up about the guilt that has quietly weighed on him since becoming a father at 18. “I’ve been at training camps, away games, tournaments since Ronnie was born,” he said, voice cracking. “I missed first steps, first words, birthdays. Trophies are amazing, but they don’t hug you back at night.” The mansion, purchased cash from a Saudi prince who used it as a weekend retreat, is Foden’s attempt to “give them roots I never had growing up.” He’s installed a private pitch in the garden “so they’ll always have a bit of me even when I’m not there.”
The property, dubbed “Foden Fortress” by locals, features bullet-proof glass, panic rooms, and a secret tunnel to a neighboring estate – security measures Foden insists are “non-negotiable” after repeated intrusions at his previous home. But the one detail he refuses to disclose is the identity of a mystery co-owner listed on the trust documents. Sources close to the deal claim the unnamed party contributed £2 million and will have lifelong access rights, fueling rumors ranging from a secret business partner to a family member. Foden’s only comment: “Some things stay private. This is for my kids.”
The gesture comes weeks after Foden signed a record-breaking £400,000-per-week extension with City, making him the club’s highest earner alongside Erling Haaland. Yet despite five Premier Leagues, a Champions League, and a Euro 2024 runners-up medal, Foden admits fatherhood remains his toughest challenge. “Football gave me everything,” he told reporters outside the property, shielding his children from cameras. “But it took time I can’t get back. This house is me saying sorry – and thank you.”
Fans have flooded social media with support, #FodenFamily trending with 1.8 million posts. “From council estate to giving his kids a palace – proper inspiration,” wrote one. Another: “Whatever the secret is, the man’s heart is pure.”
As the gates close on the new mansion, one thing is clear: Phil Foden may have conquered football, but his greatest victory is still the one he’s building at home – even if part of the story remains, for now, behind closed doors.
