Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne is set to leave the club at the end of the season, ending a 10-year spell that saw him win 16 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023. The decision was made by Pep Guardiola and technical director Txiki Begiristain, with the midfielder's declining form and contract demands being potential factors.
De Bruyne, who turns 34 in June, has been offered a new contract, but the terms would be far less than his current £400,000-a-week salary. He has been a shadow of his usual self this season, contributing four goals and seven assists in all competitions, down on normal levels.
De Bruyne's representatives have previously spoken with clubs from the Saudi Pro League, and there was interest from Major League Soccer's 2025 expansion club San Diego FC before the new season. However, San Diego have no plans to return to the potential signing. It cannot entirely be discounted he may move to another, less taxing, European league.
This could be the first of many summer departures for City, with Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish, John Stones, and Nathan Ake among those with uncertain futures. City have already started to address the situation, spending a near-record £180m on four new players in the winter transfer window, and further signings are certain this summer, with Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz high on the list of targets.
De Bruyne will be eligible to play for Man City at the Club World Cup if they qualify, but it is unlikely he will risk injury playing at a tournament which Guardiola has indicated he intends to use partly as preparation for the 2025-26 campaign. He is expected to play for Belgium in their World Cup qualifiers with North Macedonia and Wales at the beginning of June and then take a break before starting the next phase of his career somewhere else in July.
Source: BBC Sports Football
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