Kevin De Bruyne has joined Serie A champions Napoli on a free transfer after leaving Manchester City, agreeing to a two-year contract and reuniting with Scott McTominay in midfield.
Kevin De Bruyne has officially signed with Serie A champions Napoli, ending a legendary 10-year tenure at Manchester City. The Belgian maestro leaves the Premier League giants having won 14 major trophies, including six Premier League titles, five League Cups, two FA Cups, three Community Shields, and the coveted UEFA Champions League.
The 33-year-old midfielder underwent his medical in Rome and agreed to a two-year contract with Napoli, with an option for an additional year. Despite interest from MLS clubs such as Inter Miami and Chicago Fire, De Bruyne chose to remain in Europe to compete at the highest level.
A fan favorite and one of City’s all-time greats, De Bruyne made 422 appearances for the club, scoring 108 goals and providing a remarkable 177 assists. He was named Manchester City’s Player of the Season four times, featured in the Premier League Team of the Year five times, and was twice voted PFA Players’ Player of the Year. He also finished third in the 2022 Ballon d’Or rankings.
City confirmed his departure earlier this year, with the decision described by De Bruyne as a “business move” rather than a personal choice. His final game came as a substitute appearance in a 2-0 win over Fulham, where he ended the season with four goals and seven assists in 28 Premier League matches.
Now joining a Napoli side that has claimed two Scudettos in the past three seasons, De Bruyne will reunite with Belgium teammate Romelu Lukaku and link up with Scott McTominay, who had an outstanding 2024–25 campaign in Italy, scoring 12 league goals.
With Antonio Conte now managing Napoli, De Bruyne could slot seamlessly into the 4-3-3 formation that drove their recent title win, or be deployed in a 3-5-2 system similar to his former Belgian and Premier League days.
Reports also suggest De Bruyne has already purchased a home in Naples and will join up with the squad following a short summer break as Napoli prepares to defend their Serie A crown.
