Naples, Italy – Belgian midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne has completed his move to Italian champions Napoli, joining the club on a free transfer after his departure from Manchester City at the end of the Premier League season.
The 33-year-old will now link up with former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Antonio Conte, who is the head coach of the Serie A side. De Bruyne’s decision to move to Italy means he will continue to play in the Champions League next season, having reportedly turned down an offer from Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire.
Napoli announced the high-profile signing with a striking computer-generated image of De Bruyne seated on a throne wearing a crown, captioned “King Kev is here.”
De Bruyne departs Manchester City after a highly successful decade at the club, having joined from Wolfsburg in 2015. During his 10-year tenure, he played a pivotal role in securing 19 major trophies, including six Premier League titles, five League Cups, and two FA Cups. His contributions were instrumental in City’s maiden Champions League triumph in 2023, as Pep Guardiola’s team completed the historic Treble, becoming only the second English side to achieve the feat.
His departure from City was announced before the season’s conclusion, and De Bruyne bid an emotional farewell to the Etihad Stadium after his final home league match against Bournemouth in May. He also made a brief appearance in City’s last domestic game of the season against Fulham.
Reflecting on his time at City, De Bruyne said: “It’s been unbelievable to have the 10 years that I had with everything that happened here. It’s been an unbelievable ride and an absolute pleasure.” He added, “It was a joy working really hard to try and help create something that brought the club the success we enjoyed. I’m super proud to have played a part in that. Manchester has been my home and my family’s home for these past 10 years.”
Manchester City have moved swiftly to address the creative void left by De Bruyne’s exit, recently signing midfielders Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan and Rayan Cherki from Lyon. There is a possibility that City could face De Bruyne in the Champions League next season, as he continues his career at the top level.
At Napoli, De Bruyne joins a midfield that includes former Premier League players Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, in a side that narrowly secured the Serie A title last season.
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