By Samuel A. April 5, 2025
Kevin De Bruyne has announced he is leaving Manchester City at the end of the season. The club’s captain said “these will be my final months as a Manchester City player” in a post on social media. De Bruyne, whose deal expires in the summer, signed for City in 2015 from Wolfsburg for a fee of £54.5m, scoring 106 goals in 413 matches in a trophy-laden decade at the club.
The 33-year-old will go down as one of the Premier League’s greatest players after winning six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five Carabao Cups and the Champions League in an unprecedented period of success for City. De Bruyne was also part of Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning team in 2022/23.
City say plans will now be drawn up “to deliver a fitting tribute and farewell” for De Bruyne. De Bruyne thanked the City fans in his departure announcement, but is yet to provide any clarity on what the future holds for him. The City midfielder’s contract will expire at the end of June which is midway through this summer’s Club World Cup. It is unclear at this stage if that will extend his deal for a short period to have his farewell in the USA.
The farewell message goes thus: “Dear Manchester, Seeing this, you probably realise where this is heading. So I’ll get straight to it and let you all know that these will be my final months as a Manchester City player.
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. Football led me to all of you, and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This city. This club. These people… gave me EVERYTHING. I had no choice but to give EVERYTHING back! And guess what, we won EVERYTHING.
Whether we like it or not, it’s time to say goodbye. Suri, Rome, Mason, Michèle, and I are beyond grateful for what this place has meant to our family. “Manchester” will forever be on our kids’ passports and more importantly, in each of our hearts. This will always be our HOME.
We cannot thank the city, club, staff, teammates, friends, and family enough for this 10-year ride. Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter. Let’s enjoy these last moments together! Much love, Kdb.”
Despite enduring a difficult campaign, City still have something to play for, with a place in the Premier League’s top four in their grasp and an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest on the horizon. With eight league games left to play, City sit sixth, a point behind Chelsea and Newcastle United.
