Legend Kevin De Bruyne announces departure from Manchester City at the end of the season
After months of speculation surrounding Kevin De Bruyne’s future at Manchester City, the club legend has finally made his decision. In an emotional letter shared on social media, De Bruyne confirmed that he will leave the club at the end of the 2024–25 season.
With his contract set to expire in June 2025, early-season talks about a potential extension never gained momentum. Recurring injury setbacks and a dip in form have ultimately led to a mutual decision to part ways. De Bruyne made the announcement via X (formerly Twitter) and across all his social platforms:
“Dear Manchester, seeing this, you probably realize where this is heading. So I’ll get to it straight 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,” the letter started.
“Football led to 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, Maso, 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. We cannot thank the city, club, staff, teammates, friends, and family enough for this 10 years. Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter. Let’s enjoy these last moments together! Much love, KDB,” the letter ended.
De Bruyne’s legacy at Manchester City
After an underwhelming stint at Chelsea, De Bruyne revitalized his career with a breakout spell at Bundesliga side Wolfsburg. Manchester City signed him ahead of the 2015–16 season for €76 million—a club-record fee at the time—and what followed was nothing short of historic.
Over 10 seasons in as a sky blue, De Bruyne has helped the club lift 18 major trophies, including one UEFA Champions League, one FIFA Club World Cup, and six Premier League titles—four of them consecutive, making City the first English team to achieve that feat.
He has twice been named PFA Players’ Player of the Year and remains a defining figure of the Pep Guardiola era. As of his announcement, De Bruyne has played 413 games for Manchester City (8th-most in club history), scored 106 goals (7th all-time), and delivered 174 assists—making him the club’s all-time assist leader.