Belgian midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne has announced he will leave Manchester City when his contract expires at the end of the current season, concluding a glittering decade-long chapter with the club.
The 33-year-old, who joined City from Wolfsburg in 2015, departs as one of the Premier League’s all-time greats.
During his time at City, De Bruyne amassed an incredible 16 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the much-coveted UEFA Champions League in 2023.
Across 413 appearances in all competitions, he has scored 106 goals and provided countless moments of brilliance. Despite this season being marred by injuries, limiting him to just 19 starts, De Bruyne remains an icon for both City and world football.
In an emotional social media post, the Belgium captain reflected on his journey: “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. And guess what – we won everything.”
De Bruyne, who moved to City for £55m in 2015, credits manager Pep Guardiola—who joined a year later—with transforming him into one of the best central midfielders of his generation. Together, they ushered in an era of unprecedented success for the club, capped by the 2023 Champions League triumph.
However, injuries have increasingly plagued De Bruyne in recent years. He missed nearly five months last season due to a thigh injury as City clinched their fourth consecutive league title, and he paused contract negotiations while recovering from the setback. Despite rumors linking him with a move to Saudi Arabia last summer, he chose to see out his City contract.
De Bruyne’s legacy is cemented in Premier League history. He holds the record for most assists (117) and chances created (827) since joining City, and he ranks second all-time in Premier League assists, trailing only Ryan Giggs (162).
He has twice been named Premier League Player of the Season and holds the joint record for most assists in a single campaign (20), matching Thierry Henry.
