England midfielder Kalvin Phillips says his time at Manchester City was "stressful" - and his loan move to West Ham has made him feel "more alive".
The 28-year-old made only six starts for Pep Guardiola's side following a £42m switch from Leeds in 2022.
His City spell included criticism from the manager over his weight - which Phillips said knocked his confidence.
"Now I'm here at West Ham and playing, I feel a lot more alive," he said, following his January move south.
"I still loved the game, it just changed my way of thinking a little bit," Phillips told the Observer.