Manchester City’s midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne has announced he will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the current season, bringing an iconic decade-long spell at the Etihad to a close.
The 33-year-old Belgian international, who joined City from Wolfsburg in 2015 for £55m, has been instrumental in the club’s most successful era, lifting 16 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a historic Champions League in 2023.
De Bruyne made the emotional announcement on social media, stating, “Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter. This city. This club. These people gave me everything. I had no choice but to give everything back.”
In 413 appearances across all competitions, De Bruyne has scored 106 goals and provided a record-breaking 117 assists in the Premier League — the most since he joined the league in 2015. His playmaking brilliance also saw him equal Thierry Henry’s record of 20 assists in a single season.
City boss Pep Guardiola, who arrived a year after De Bruyne, was instrumental in transforming him from an attacking midfielder into one of the world’s most complete central players. Together, they built a City dynasty that dominated English football and peaked with their European triumph in Istanbul two years ago.
However, the past two seasons have seen the Belgian captain hampered by injuries. He missed nearly five months of this campaign due to a thigh problem and has started just 19 matches this season. De Bruyne had previously paused contract extension talks, suggesting he was open to new opportunities, including a potential move to Saudi Arabia.
While his departure will mark the end of an era, his impact on City is etched in history. De Bruyne holds the second-most assists in Premier League history (117), only behind Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs (162). He also shares the most Premier League Playmaker of the Season awards (three) and is tied for the most Player of the Season awards with Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Henry (two).
In a heartfelt farewell, De Bruyne added, “This will always be our home. We cannot thank the city, club, staff, team-mates, friends, and family enough for this 10-year ride.”
As Manchester City brace for life after their creative talisman, fans across the world will remember Kevin De Bruyne not just as a world-class midfielder, but as the beating heart of one of the greatest teams in Premier League history.
