Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has completed a free transfer to Napoli, linking up with new head coach Antonio Conte at the reigning Serie A champions.
The 33-year-old Belgian playmaker departs City after a glittering 10-year spell, during which he won 19 major trophies, including six Premier League titles, five League Cups, two FA Cups, and the club’s first-ever UEFA Champions League title in 2023 as part of a historic treble.
De Bruyne turned down a lucrative offer from Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire in favour of continuing his career at the highest level in Europe. His move to Napoli means he will remain in the Champions League next season.
Napoli unveiled the signing with a dramatic computer-generated image of De Bruyne sitting on a throne wearing a crown, captioned: “King Kev is here.”
“It’s been unbelievable to have the 10 years that I had with everything that happened here,” De Bruyne said in a farewell message to City fans.
“It’s been an unbelievable ride and an absolute pleasure. I’m super proud to have played a part in the success we achieved. Manchester has been my home and my family’s home for these past 10 years.”
De Bruyne’s departure was announced before the end of the 2024/25 Premier League season. He bid an emotional farewell to the Etihad faithful during City’s final home game against Bournemouth in May and made a brief appearance in their final league fixture at Fulham.
To replace the Belgian maestro, City have acted swiftly in the transfer market, bringing in Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan and Rayan Cherki from Lyon to bolster their midfield.
