Kevin De Bruyne confirms he's leaving Man City as he pens emotional statement
Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has confirmed he will leave the Premier League club this summer after 10 trophy-laden years at the Etihad Stadium for the Belgian
by Samuel Meade · The MirrorKevin De Bruyne has confirmed he will leave Manchester City this summer after a decade at the club. The Belgian, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has come out and stated that he will be leaving the Premier League side.
The playmaker is regarded as one of the club's greatest ever players, winning six league titles and the Champions League, which came during City's treble-winning campaign in 2023.
De Bruyne joined the Manchester outfit for a club record £55million when he signed from Wolfsburg in the summer of 2015 and, bar his first year, has spent his entire time at the Etihad playing under Pep Guardiola. The Catalan has been vocal about his desire to keep the Belgian.
Fitness has been an issue for the 33-year-old this term, but he will go down as a Premier League great given his exploits. De Bruyne is a two-time winner of the PFA Player of the Year award, winning it in 2020 and 2021, but confessed that every chapter must come to an end.
He penned a message on social media in which he said: "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.
"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, Michèle, 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.
"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."
De Bruyne has given no indication as to what comes next with no talk of retirement in his statement. There have been links of the City icon moving to either Saudi Arabia or the United States, where he could take up a lucrative deal.
De Bruyne leaves City having played 413 times, scoring 106 times. He has also racked up 118 assists, placing him second on the all-time list behind Ryan Giggs.
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