Chelsea Premier League winner faces bankruptcy after HRMC petition

Ex-England and Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has been hit with a bankruptcy petition from HM Revenue & Customs, which was brought before the High Court on Friday.

The 43-year-old could be on the brink of financial collapse after the taxman's legal pursuit. Wright-Phillips, who hung up his boots in 2019, is now a familiar face in punditry, appearing on major networks including BBC, ITV, Sky Sports, TNT Sports, Amazon, and talkSPORT.

Since 2020, he has also played the role of club ambassador for Manchester City. His full name, Shaun Cameron Wright-Phillips, was listed on the court documents regarding the petition.

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When approached by Telegraph Sport, a spokesperson for Wright-Phillips explained: "Shaun is not aware of this and matters are already with his accountant who is fully versed in Shaun's affairs.

"He is currently out of the country and the matter will be strenuously contested on his return."

The high-flying former player was in Atlanta recently, performing his ambassadorial responsibilities for the Citizens.

On Saturday, he witnessed City thrashing Al Ain 6-0 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium during the Club World Cup.

In addition to watching the match, Wright-Phillips participated in a Young Leaders Summit with another City ambassador, Joleon Lescott, which featured a cultural stroll through Atlanta.

Despite his sporting success, which includes winning the Premier League while at Chelsea, Wright-Phillips has encountered difficulties in business, with Maison d'IF, a luxury handbag shop based in Mayfair that he opened in July 2020, not taking off as planned.

The company maintained its last social media presence on Instagram and X before being ordered to wind up by the court in August 2023.

Shortly after filing their annual accounts, showing net liabilities exceeding £200,000 as of 30 June 2022, the handbag business collapsed.

Companies House records show that Wright-Phillips has helmed several companies under his full name.

Previous business ventures have seen troubles for Wright-Phillips, with one such venture meeting its end through court proceedings in 2013 – a forewarning of the financial issues he currently encounters.

Additionally, Wright-Phillips launched SWP29 LTD, a PR and communications enterprise, in January 2023.

Its first-year accounts demonstrate liabilities of £103,894 versus debts owed to it of £102,268.

Wright-Phillips is part of an increasing roster of ex-pros stumbling into financial strife.

His former Man City colleague, Trevor Sinclair, found himself bankrupt earlier in the month due to a £36,000 tax bill accrued from pundit work in the tax year 2021-22.

Sinclair, who's been coaching the Jamaican national squad, was accused by a judge of "burying his head in the sand" regarding the unpaid amount. The former winger faced bankruptcy after not attending the court date.