Kyle Walker, a standout player for Manchester City, is highly regarded by the team’s fans thanks to his impressive talent on the field, which is matched by his hefty £160,000 weekly salary. However, the road to success for the 34-year-old footballer has been marked by tragedy, having grown up in the modest Lansdowne Estate in Sheffield. Coming from a Jamaican background, Kyle has experienced harrowing events in his early years, including a tragic house fire that resulted in the death of a woman. His childhood in Sheffield, attending Porter Croft Infant & Junior School and later High Storrs School, was far from easy as he navigated through incidents that have left a lasting impact on his life. Reflecting on his past in a recent 2022 interview, Kyle recalled a chilling moment when he returned home from school to find a mysterious woman wearing a motorcycle helmet and carrying an axe in the vicinity of his house. These experiences have helped shape the football star into the resilient and successful player he is today.
Growing up, Kyle Walker’s childhood was a stark contrast to the luxurious life he leads now as the captain of Manchester City. He has faced many challenges and tragedies, but looks back with a smile, acknowledging that he didn’t fully understand the severity at the time. He vividly recalls a horrifying fire at a neighbor’s house, caused by someone pouring petrol through the letterbox and lighting a match. Kyle stumbled upon the tragic scene as he returned home, seeing the fire and someone hanging on the stairs. Despite these harrowing incidents, Kyle remains close to his parents, Michael and Tracey, who met after Michael moved to the UK from Jamaica. While he appreciates his parents, he admits to clashing with his father’s strict parenting style, often leaving him in tears after every football game. Listen to Kyle Walker share his story on the BBC Sounds podcast, You’ll Never Beat Kyle Walker.
The athlete was raised in the blue-collar Lansdowne Estate in Sheffield by his parents, Michael and Tracey. His father had moved to the UK from Jamaica with only £200 in his pocket.
Kyle had mentioned before that he saw a terrible fire break out at the house next door, which sadly resulted in the tragic death of a woman.
He shared with The Mail how one afternoon, upon returning from school, he was surprised to see a woman strolling near his house wearing a motorcycle helmet and holding an axe (as shown in the image of Lansdowne Estate in Sheffield).
Kyle explained that he holds no ill feelings towards his father for motivating him in his football career, as it shaped him into the person and player he is today. While his father’s tough love pushed him to prove himself, his mother provided caring support throughout the journey. Winning his father’s approval was a gradual process, with his dad finally acknowledging his football talent after a few years at Manchester City. Starting his football career at Sheffield United and later moving to Tottenham Hotspur, Kyle’s hard work and determination paid off when he joined Manchester City under Pep Guardiola’s leadership. Being named the club’s captain in 2023, he has achieved numerous titles, including multiple Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. When it comes to parenting his four sons with his wife Annie Kilner, Kyle draws from his own upbringing. He believes in teaching his children the value of hard work and resilience by not letting them win easily. He recalled how his father instilled a winning mentality in him, passing down that lesson to his own children while striving to provide them with a different, more nurturing childhood experience. Despite his success and financial stability, Kyle wishes his children could still learn the same lessons he did growing up, as he believes those experiences can shape them into better individuals and future winners. With a generous weekly salary at Manchester City, Kyle remains grateful for his journey and the valuable lessons learned along the way.
The celebrity studied at Porter Croft Infant & Junior School and later attended High Storrs School in Sheffield.
Kyle, who is currently making a weekly salary of £160,000 with City, mentioned that he somewhat longs for his kids to experience a similar upbringing to his own, as shown in the picture with his wife, Annie Kilner.
Kyle began his journey in professional football at 19 when he signed with Sheffield United. He later transferred to Manchester City in 2017 to continue his career.
Discussing his children, Kyle expressed his desire for them to have the same experiences he had growing up. He mentioned how he wishes they could live in a more diverse environment to interact with different people and make various friends. Currently, his children mainly entertain themselves by playing with their siblings. Kyle is facing challenges in his relationship with Annie, as they try to work through the situation where he fathered children with Lauryn during their marriage. Annie has asked Kyle to leave their luxurious mansion in Cheshire, prompting him to find temporary accommodation. In a recent interview, Lauryn, an influencer, defended her actions regarding child maintenance and portrayed herself as someone who is simply trying to secure financial stability for their children. Despite facing criticism, she remains steadfast in her efforts to protect her children’s financial future. An ongoing court case has revealed accusations against Lauryn, alleging that she has been exploiting Kyle for money and making threats to get her way. Despite this portrayal, Lauryn maintains that she is financially independent through her work as an influencer and appearances on television programs.