The 25-year-old enjoyed a stellar campaign at Elland Road, and has subsequently established himself as a key member of Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
Richards is in little doubt that he is fully deserving of his spot in the manager’s plans.
Writing in a column for the Daily Mail, he said: “Before the start of last season, I was asked to pick a player from each club as one to watch. It was one of my first tasks as a Sportsmail columnist.
"For Leeds, my selection was Kalvin Phillips I’d watched them a lot during their promotion campaign and knew he was good.
“‘It is hard to get on the ball and play in the Championship but he did it brilliantly,’ I wrote in September. ‘He is known as a defensive midfielder, for tackling and hard work and stuff like that, but don’t put him in a bracket. He can go up another level.’
“I got that last sentence wrong. He’s gone up another two or three levels and his performance against Germany was just sensational.
“When you watch him live in a stadium, you can see there is so much more, how good he is on the ball. Phillips is going to be an England player for a very long time.”
We’ve gathered the best of today’s Premier League speculation in the pages below…
1. Man United consider Brozovic bid
Manchester United are preparing a bid for Marcelo Brozovic. United are ready to pay £26 million for the Inter Milan midfielder. (Daily Star) (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) Photo: Stuart Franklin
2. Leao not keen on Toffees move
AC Milan striker Rafael Leao is not convinced by the idea of joining Everton but would be open to a move to Borussia Dortmund. (Calciomercato) (Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images) Photo: Jurij Kodrun
3. Burnley want Furlong
West Brom full-back Darnell Furlong has emerged as a transfer target for both Burnley and Brentford. (Football Insider) (Photo by Geoff Caddick - Pool/Getty Images) Photo: Pool
4. Shaqiri price revealed
Liverpool will demand at least £13million for Xherdan Shaqiri - and are braced for Lazio making an official move for the Switzerland star. (Liverpool Echo) (Photo by Anatoly Maltsev - Pool/Getty Images) Photo: Anatoly Maltsev - Pool
5. Palace plot Madueke swoop
Crystal Palace are interested in bringing PSV Eindhoven’s Noni Madueke to Selhurst Park this summer. (Football Insider) (Photo by MARCEL VAN HOORN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images) Photo: MARCEL VAN HOORN
6. Barcelona's Spanish defender Junior Firpo arrives for a training session at the Joan Gamper training ground in Sant Joan Despi in the outskirts of Barcelona on February 29, 2020 on the eve of the Spanish League football match between Real Madrid and Barcelona. (Photo by Pau Barrena / AFP) (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)
Junior Firpo will undergo a medical at Leeds United before joining from Barcelona, snubbing West Ham United in the process. (Sport) (Photo by Pau Barrena / AFP) (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images) Photo: PAU BARRENA