Kevin De Bruyne: Belgian midfielder completes switch to Serie A champions Napoli on a free transfer after leaving Manchester City
By Raj Mahil
Updated 13/06/2025 at 23:05 GMT+1
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There is a new shade of sky blue for Kevin De Bruyne. After leaving Manchester City as one of the most important players in club history, the Belgian superstar has now put pen to paper with Napoli. De Bruyne has signed a two-year deal with the option of a third, and will link up with international team-mate Romelu Lukaku, who recently fired Napoli to a final-day clinching of the Serie A title.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 25: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City looks on prior to the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Manchester City FC at Craven Cottage on May 25, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Roberts - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Image credit: Getty Images
Manchester City icon Kevin De Bruyne has joined newly-crowned Serie A champions Napoli on a reported two-year contract with an option to extend.
De Bruyne left City at the end of the season, following a wildly successful decade in the North West of England.
He departs sitting second in the all-time Premier League assist rankings, while boasting four of the top 10 best individual seasons for assists.
Indeed, the very best of them all was his return of 20 in 2019/20 - only matched by Thierry Henry at Arsenal in 2002/03.
The trophies were also plentiful. De Bruyne lifted the Premier League six times, the FA Cup twice, and the UEFA Champions League - with all three comprising City's 2022/23 treble.
He won the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup, plus the EFL Cup five times and the Community Shield on three occasions.
De Bruyne's sky-blue swap is to a club which has just rediscovered its taste for glory. Napoli have won two of the last three Serie A titles.
After a 10th-placed finish in between, Antonio Conte was brought in last summer and immediately injected his trademark intensity, as they wrestled the Scudetto back from Inter Milan.
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It took until the final day to clinch the trophy for a fourth time in club history, though, with Scott McTominay and fellow former Manchester United star Romelu Lukaku scoring the crucial goals.
Lukaku is already accustomed to being teed up by De Bruyne, with the pair having starred together for Belgium since 2010.
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