ˈæftɚ fˈaɪv jˈɪɹz æt wˈɪmbəldən ɪnwˌɪtʃ hiː mˌeɪd wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti ˈeɪt ɐpˈɪɹənsᵻz, fˈɛlæn wʌz tɹænsfˈɜːd tə mˈæntʃɛstɚ sˈɪɾi fɔːɹ pˈaʊnd tˈuː.fˈaɪv mˈɪliən æt ðə stˈɑːɹt ʌvðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti tˈuː nˈaɪnti θɹˈiː sˈiːzən, ˈiːkwəlˌɪŋ ðə bɹˈɪɾɪʃ ɹˈɛkɚd tɹˈænsfɜː fˈiː fɚɹə dᵻfˈɛndɚɹ æz wˈɛl æz ˈiːkwəlˌɪŋ ðə klˈʌbz ɹˈɛkɚd fˈiː.
After five years at Wimbledon in which he made 198 appearances, Phelan was transferred to Manchester City for £2.5 million at the start of the 1992–93 season, equalling the British record transfer fee for a defender as well as equalling the club's record fee.