Kevin De Bruyne to leave Manchester City at the end of the season

Kevin De Bruyne has dropped a bombshell by confirming he will bid farewell to Manchester City this summer after an illustrious decade-long stint. The Belgian maestro, whose contract is winding down, made it clear that his time with the Premier League giants is coming to an end.

De Bruyne, hailed as one of City's all-time greats, boasts an impressive trophy haul including six league titles and a Champions League triumph during the club's historic treble in 2023.

Signing from Wolfsburg back in 2015 for a then club-record fee of £55million, De Bruyne has been a pivotal figure at the Etihad, especially under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola, who has openly expressed his wish to retain the midfield wizard.

Despite battling fitness issues this season, the 33 year old's legacy as a Premier League legend is undisputed, not least for clinching the PFA Player of the Year accolade twice in consecutive years, 2020 and 2021. However, De Bruyne has acknowledged that all good things must come to an end.

Taking to social media to address the fans directly, De Bruyne penned an emotional message: "Dear Manchester, Seeing this, you probably realise where this is heading. So I'll get straight to it and let you all know that these will be my final months as a Manchester City player. Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here- and you deserve to hear it from me first.", reports the Mirror.

Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City's midfield maestro, has hinted at an emotional farewell to the club that he says gave him "EVERYTHING," with no indication of retirement in his latest statement. He said, "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."

He went on to add, "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 to our family. 'Manchester' will forever be on our kids' passports- and more importantly, in each of our hearts.This will always be our HOME."

The beloved 'KDB' further expressed his appreciation saying, "We cannot thank the city, club, staff, teammates, friends, and family enough for this 10-year ride. Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter. Let's enjoy these last moments together! Much love, KDB."

Despite speculation about his future, with whispers about a potential move to Saudi Arabia or the United States, nothing concrete is on the table yet. De Bruyne exits as a City legend, having chalked up 413 appearances, netted 106 goals, and notched up 118 assists, sitting second only to Ryan Giggs on the all-time assist leaderboard.

Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.