It’ll be the end of an era at Manchester City when Kevin De Bruyne calls time on his tenure with the Premier League club at the end of this season.
De Bruyne announced his impending departure with a Friday morning social media post saluting the club and saying his family and he are incredibly grateful for their time in Manchester. He’ll turn 34 in late June.
MORE — De Bruyne second on Premier League assist chart
“This club, this city, these people gave me EVERYTHING. I had no choice but to give EVERYTHING back. And guess what? We won EVERYTHING.”
Man City called De Bruyne a “global icon of the game,” while manager Pep Guardiola gushed over De Bruyne’s City career.
“In the Premier League he is one of the greatest midfielders in this country and top of the club,” he said. “Great, if not the greatest. I always have respect for the players who play many roles and are incredible players to play 20 or 30 years in this club.”
“His assists, goals, and vision in the final third is so difficult to replace,” Guardiola continued. “Everyone can make actions to assist, how many years and games makes him unique... We’ve won a lot of trophies and he’s been involved in every single one. Remember him as part of this club. I said to him the door is open for the rest of his life. He’s part of the family of this club, his impact transcends what he’s done on the pitch, Kevin is one of them.”
De Bruyne did not announce his next move, though it’s been speculated he may move to Major League Soccer this summer. San Diego FC has been linked with the player’s services. Sky Sports have reported that De Bruyne is also speaking with Saudi second-tier side Neom SC.
Kevin De Bruyne career statistics, honors with Manchester City
De Bruyne’s 118 Premier League assists put him second all-time to Ryan Giggs, who played a heck of a lot more games with Manchester United in his career.
The Belgian has led the Premier League in assists three times, thrice winning the relatively-new Premier League Playmaker of the Year award.
De Bruyne’s minutes are down at City this season, where he has four goals and seven assists in 31 appearances spanning 1,698 minutes.
He arrived at City from Wolfsburg early in the 2015-16 season, and immediately answered doubters regarding a lackluster early Premier League stint with Chelsea in 2013-14.
De Bruyne has 106 goals and 174 assists in 413 appearances for City, who have won six Premier League titles during his tenure in Manchester. Five League Cups, two FA Cups, two Community Shields, and the 2022-23 Champions League have also been claimed by City with the player.
Individual honors have also piled up on his CV. De Bruyne was named to the PFA Premier League Team of the Year on five occasions and has four times been crowned Man City Player of the Season. The two-time Premier League Player of the Season has also been in the Champions League Team of the Season on four occasions.
When is Kevin De Bruyne’s last game with Manchester City?
There’s some uncertainty here due to Manchester City’s participation in the Club World Cup this summer.
City’s Premier League season ends May 25 at home to Fulham. Their last home PL game is May 18 versus Bournemouth.
The club then has the Club World Cup, with group stage running June 18-26.
De Bruyne’s contract expires June 30, with the tournament potentially running through a July 13 final.
The June 26 game is against Juventus in Orlando, Florida, though it would seem unlikely De Bruyne would participate in only a portion of the tournament if he chooses to compete at the Club World Cup.
Kevin De Bruyne’s statement on Manchester City departure
Dear Manchester. 💙 pic.twitter.com/2EdhVYOLti
— Kevin De Bruyne (@KevinDeBruyne) April 4, 2025
