Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has officially announced that he will be leaving the club at the end of the current season. The 33-year-old Belgian, who joined City from Wolfsburg in 2015, has enjoyed a trophy-laden career with the club, lifting 14 major honours including six Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2023.
In an emotional message shared on social media, De Bruyne expressed the difficulty of his decision:
“Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here – and you deserve to hear it from me first.
Football led me to all of you – and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This City. This club. These people… gave me EVERYTHING. I had no choice but to give EVERYTHING back! And guess what – we won everything.”
Over the past decade, De Bruyne has played a central role in transforming Manchester City into a dominant force in both English and European football. His creativity, intelligence, and leadership have earned him recognition as one of the finest midfielders of his generation.
De Bruyne has twice been named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, in the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons. Statistically, he ranks second in the Premier League’s all-time assists chart with 118, and has scored 106 goals in 413 appearances for City.
Tributes and Reflections
City manager Pep Guardiola paid tribute to his captain, describing De Bruyne as irreplaceable:
“He’s one of the greatest we’ve ever seen. His assists, his goals, his vision in the final third – it’s so difficult to replace. What he’s done here for the past decade has been outstanding.”
Although his contract is set to expire at the end of June, it remains uncertain whether De Bruyne will feature for the club in the FIFA Club World Cup, scheduled to take place from June 14 to July 13.
He hinted at a final run with the club, saying:
“Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter. Let’s enjoy these last moments together!”
Reports suggest that De Bruyne may continue his career either in the Saudi Pro League or in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States, although nothing has been confirmed.
Challenges in Recent Years
In recent seasons, De Bruyne’s influence on the pitch has waned due to recurring injury issues. A hamstring injury sidelined him for five months last season, and he has started just 21 of City’s 47 matches this season. His absence has been felt, especially as City struggle to maintain the high standards set in previous years. Currently, they sit fifth in the Premier League, trailing leaders Liverpool by 22 points. Their Champions League hopes were also dashed after a 6-3 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid in the play-off round.
A Remarkable Career
De Bruyne’s journey to the top was far from straightforward. He began his professional career at Genk in Belgium before making a move to the Premier League with Chelsea. However, he struggled for game time, making just nine appearances before being sold to Wolfsburg.
It was in Germany that he reignited his career, winning the Bundesliga Player of the Season award in 2014/15 after helping Wolfsburg finish second behind Bayern Munich. City then signed him for a then-club record £55 million ($72 million), a fee that was met with skepticism at the time due to his earlier struggles in England.
Yet, De Bruyne quickly silenced the doubters, becoming a linchpin of Guardiola’s all-conquering side. Highlights of his career include helping City achieve:
- A record-breaking 100-point season in 2017/18
- The first domestic treble in English football history (Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup) in 2018/19
- A historic treble (Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup) in 2022/23
- Becoming the first team to win four consecutive English top-flight titles
Legacy on the International Stage
Internationally, De Bruyne has earned over 100 caps for Belgium, forming part of the country’s ‘golden generation.’ He played a key role in Belgium’s third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup, as well as reaching the quarter-finals at Euro 2016 and Euro 2020. Despite their talent, the team was unable to secure a major international trophy.
As Kevin De Bruyne prepares to bid farewell to Manchester City, he leaves behind a remarkable legacy as one of the club’s greatest-ever players, an icon whose brilliance shaped one of the most successful eras in English football history.
