Kevin De Bruyne leaves Manchester City for Napoli

End of an era at Manchester City

Kevin De Bruyne has ended his long-standing career at Manchester City and announced his transfer to Italian club Napoli. The Belgian star bids farewell to the Etihad Stadium after 10 years, turning a new page in his career.

Contract decision and Napoli’s interest

De Bruyne stated that he made a “really difficult decision” after City decided not to offer him a new contract. This development comes as part of a major squad overhaul at the club.

Napoli pushed hard for his signature and eventually won him over. One of the appealing factors in the transfer was that De Bruyne has a personal connection to the city, having held his wedding there in 2017.

Official announcement and medical

On 12 June 2025, Napoli announced that De Bruyne had joined the club on a free transfer. The club celebrated the signing on its social media accounts with the message “King Kev is here.” Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis also welcomed the transfer with enthusiasm. After undergoing a medical examination at Villa Stuart Hospital in Rome, De Bruyne signed his contract with Napoli.

New goals in Serie A

De Bruyne signed a deal with Napoli running until 2027. Napoli announced his arrival with great excitement, stating that the transfer aims to strengthen the club’s competitiveness in Europe and continue its title pursuit in Serie A.

Final season at City

This season, De Bruyne made 40 official appearances for Manchester City, scoring 6 goals and providing 8 assists. To date, he has worn the Manchester City shirt 422 times, becoming the 8th player with the most appearances in the club’s history. In these matches, he scored 108 goals and made 177 assists, and notably never received a red card.

By June 2025, Kevin De Bruyne has collected 18 major trophies with Manchester City, cementing his legacy as one of the club’s all-time greats. His silverware haul includes six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five EFL Cups, two Community Shields, a UEFA Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup, and a FIFA Club World Cup—an enduring testament to a decade of elite consistency and influence in midfield.

Most appearances in Manchester City history

Joe Corrigan – 570 matches
Alan Oakes – 514 matches
Mike Doyle – 507 matches
Bert Trautmann – 480 matches
Tommy Booth – 459 matches
Colin Bell – 457 matches
David Silva – 436 matches
Kevin De Bruyne – 422 matches

Farewell message to City fans

De Bruyne shared an emotional message as he bid farewell to Manchester City fans. He honoured both the successes he achieved over the 10 years spent in the city and the football he played for the club.

“My 10 years at Manchester City have been incredible. Everything we've been through here has been so special. I’m really proud that I was able to contribute to the club throughout this journey.”

Expressing his gratitude to the fans, De Bruyne said:

“I always felt at home here. Together with my family, Manchester became our home. Everyone at the club helped me be the best version of myself every single day. I became a much better player during this process.”

“Manchester City fans have always embraced me. Stepping out onto the pitch in a full stadium, with my family alongside me, is a feeling beyond words.”