Kevin de Bruyne has stated that he will depart Manchester City at the end of the current season when his contract expires.
Since moving from Wolfsburg to City in 2015, the 33-year-old De Bruyne has won 16 trophies, including six Premier League championships and the 2023 Champions League.
Although he has only started 19 games this season, he has scored 106 goals in 413 games across all competitions for City.
Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter,” the Belgium midfielder wrote on social media.
“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, Michele, and I are beyond grateful for what this place has meant for 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, team-mates, friends, and family enough for this 10-year ride.”
In 2015, the Belgium captain was paid £55 million to join City from Bundesliga team Wolfsburg.
A year later, manager Pep Guardiola joined the team and aided in De Bruyne’s transformation into a central midfielder.
He contributed to City’s dazzling run of success, which ended in 2023 with the team’s first Champions League victory.
However, in recent years, the midfield player has begun to suffer from injuries. He played just 26 games across all competitions last season, missing nearly five months as City won the league for the fourth time in a row.
While recuperating from a thigh injury he suffered in September, he put a halt to contract negotiations.
After being linked to a move to Saudi Arabia, the former Chelsea midfielder declared last summer that he was “open to everything.”
