There are farewells in football that go quietly, yet carry great weight. Nat Phillips, a defender who never courted headlines but earned respect through commitment and composure, is undergoing a medical ahead of a permanent move to West Bromwich Albion, according to The Athletic. It signals the end of an eight-year spell at Liverpool, a club he served with understated professionalism.

Phillips, 28, had one year remaining on his Liverpool contract and spent last season on loan at Derby County. His performances were noted across the Championship, but it is Ryan Mason’s West Brom who have secured his signature. He will join up with his new team-mates this week as pre-season testing begins.

Signed from Bolton Wanderers’ academy in 2016, Phillips made 29 senior appearances for Liverpool. His debut came in the heat of a Merseyside derby, but it was during the 2020–21 injury crisis that he truly emerged. Alongside Rhys Williams, Phillips helped salvage Champions League qualification, his no-nonsense defending a source of reassurance in a patched-up back line.

Loan spells at Stuttgart, Bournemouth, Celtic, Cardiff and Derby followed. His final Liverpool outing was in January 2023 against Wolves. While not a headline name, Phillips departs with dignity and the gratitude of supporters who never forgot his contribution in a time of need.

There’s a sense of quiet appreciation among Liverpool fans when it comes to Nat Phillips. He may not have been destined for long-term stardom at Anfield, but his role in one of the club’s most testing seasons will always be remembered.

That 2020–21 campaign, when injuries to Van Dijk, Gomez and Matip forced Klopp to rely on unproven options, could have derailed Liverpool’s ambitions. But Phillips stood firm, often with head bandaged or body bruised, clearing balls with authority and showing a resilience that defined the side’s run-in to a top-four finish.

His journey since has been one of football’s more honest tales. No pretence, no entitlement — just a player who gave what he had every time he stepped onto the pitch. West Brom are gaining a character, not just a centre-back.

For Liverpool, this is a natural parting of ways. But for Phillips, it may well be the beginning of a consistent run as a leader at Championship level. He leaves Anfield having already won one of football’s rarer honours: the respect of the Kop.