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Kevin de Bruyne has announced that he will depart from Manchester City when his contract comes to an end at the season's conclusion.
The 33-year-old midfielder has accumulated 16 trophies since joining City from Wolfsburg in 2015, which includes winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023.
De Bruyne has netted 106 goals across 413 matches for City in all tournaments, although he has only started 19 games this season. In a social media post, he expressed, “Every story has its conclusion, but this has undeniably been the finest chapter.
“Football brought me to all of you – and to this city. Pursuing my passion, I had no idea this era would transform my life. This city. This club.
“The people here have given me everything. I had no alternative but to reciprocate with everything I had. And we triumphed in everything.
“Whether we like it or not, it’s time for farewell. Suri, Rome, Mason, Michele, and I are deeply thankful for what this place means to our family. Manchester will always remain on our children’s passports – and most importantly, in all of our hearts.
“This will always be our home. We cannot express enough gratitude to the city, the club, the staff, teammates, friends, and family for this incredible 10-year journey.”
The Belgium captain transferred to City from Bundesliga’s Wolfsburg in 2015 for £55 million. Manager Pep Guardiola arrived a year later and played a key role in evolving De Bruyne’s skills into those of a central midfielder.
He was instrumental in City’s successful era, which reached its peak with the club’s inaugural Champions League victory in 2023.
However, the midfielder has been facing challenges with injuries in recent years. He was sidelined for nearly five months in the last season while City secured their fourth consecutive league title, participating in only 26 matches across all competitions. He halted contract discussions while recuperating from a thigh injury he suffered in September.
Last summer, the former Chelsea midfielder mentioned he was “open to everything” when speculation arose about a move to Saudi Arabia.
