Manchester City star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has announced he will leave the club at the end of the current season, drawing the curtain on a glittering decade-long spell at the Etihad.
In a heartfelt statement shared on social media Friday, the 33-year-old Belgian wrote, “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.”
De Bruyne, who joined City from Wolfsburg in 2015, has played a pivotal role in the club’s most successful era, amassing 14 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023.
“Football led me to all of you – and to this city,” he said. “This City. This club. These people… gave me EVERYTHING. I had no choice but to give EVERYTHING back. And guess what – we won everything.”
City manager Pep Guardiola praised De Bruyne as one of the finest to ever play for the club, saying: “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.”
Over his 413 appearances for the club, De Bruyne has registered 118 Premier League assists — second only in league history — and netted 106 goals. He was twice named PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2019/20 and 2020/21.
Although his contract runs until the end of June, it remains uncertain whether De Bruyne will feature in the Club World Cup this summer. He has been linked with potential moves to either the Saudi Pro League or Major League Soccer.
Injuries have limited his impact in recent seasons. He missed five months of the current campaign with a hamstring injury and has made only 21 starts in all competitions. Meanwhile, Manchester City are struggling by their usual standards, trailing league leaders Liverpool by 22 points and exiting the Champions League in the play-offs to Real Madrid.
A key figure in Belgium’s golden generation, De Bruyne has earned over 100 caps, playing a leading role in their third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup.
His career trajectory took off after a disappointing stint at Chelsea. A move to Wolfsburg reignited his potential, earning him Bundesliga Player of the Season in 2014/15 before a £55 million switch to City — a fee that raised eyebrows at the time but ultimately proved a bargain.
From a domestic treble in 2018/19 to the historic treble in 2022/23, De Bruyne has been at the heart of City’s dominance under Guardiola.
As he prepares to depart, he leaves behind a legacy as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation.
“Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter,” De Bruyne wrote. “Let’s enjoy these last moments together!”