Kyle Walker is set to leave the Premier League as he lines up to continue his career abroad with his wife Annie Kilner despite their rocky relationship
Kyle Walker is looking to leave Manchester City and start a new life abroad with his wife Annie Kilner.
The 34-year-old appears to be heading out of the Etihad exit door and saying farewell to the Premier League. Pep Guardiola revealed the England star was left out of the FA Cup squad against Salford City after asking to leave the club. “It’s not easy for me to say but Kyle is not here because two days ago he asked to explore the option to play abroad,” his boss revealed.
“He asked after the Treble, when Bayern wanted him, but the offer was not good enough. For that reason, I prefer to play other players whose mind is here. Kyle went to Txiki Begiristain. Maybe I am wrong but I am pretty convinced that you should keep no-one who doesn’t want to be here.”
It had been claimed that Serie A giants AC Milan were leading the race for the right-back, with him eyeing up a move to Italy. However, it’s now been reported that the England international is due to travel to join city rivals Inter Milan on a season-long loan instead, with his wife Annie and their four children to head with him, according to the Daily Mail.
The couple are said to have patched up their relationship after almost divorcing a year ago. The Mail quoted a source as saying: “The deal is virtually done, Kyle’s going to be on the plane to Italy to join Inter on loan until the end of the season.
“The club want to bolster their defence and see Kyle as a key component. They’re prepared to pay the wages (£300,000-per-week) he’s on at City. Kyle has been keen for a move.
“He’s won all there is to win at City but is now looking for a fresh challenge. His agent is [in] contact with Inter and we expect everything to go through next week. Kyle is keen to start again and experience playing in a different country.”
Walker is poised to be joined by his wife Annie, after the couple have seemingly reconciled after the defender’s well-publicised scandal involving ex Lauryn Goodman. It was revealed in December 2023 that Walker had secretly fathered a daughter with Goodman in 2022, and the pair also had a son in 2020.
Annie was pregnant with their fourth child at the time and planned to divorce him after moving out of their home. But the pair have since reunited, and Annie is set to join him abroad with their four children.
The source added: “Annie will be on the plane with him along with the kids. They’ve had well-publicised struggles but are now looking to put all that behind them and start afresh in Italy.
“The plan is for Annie to join Kyle in Italy. Kyle and Annie have had a terrible year. She was very close to filing for divorce at the end of last year.
“It looks like she’s changed her mind about the divorce for the time being and she will go to Italy with Kyle and the kids. With all the problems they have had with Lauryn, who knows, maybe Milan will be a fresh start for them?”
Kyle and Annie shared Christmas together and Annie is said to be “quietly working on her relationship with Kyle behind the scenes”. The insider added: “The couple are committed to keeping their family as united as possible and protecting their four boys from any fallout.”
Walker has lifted six Premier League titles and has played 319 times for City, including 18 appearances so far this season, since arriving from Tottenham Hotspur in 2017 for £45million. But it appears his trophy-laden City career is coming to an end.