June 13 – Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has completed his move to Napoli following his departure from Manchester City at the end of the Premier League season.
On Thursday, the Belgian arrived in Napoli on a free transfer after he had been linked with a move to Major League Soccer. The Italian club announced the signing of the 33-year-old with a computer-generated image, of De Bruyne sitting on a throne wearing a crown, captioned ‘King Kev is here’.
Following the FA Cup final with City, De Bruyne had indicated that he wanted to keep competing at the highest level and Napoli’s participation in the Champions League will provide him with that opportunity. Following a dramatic implosion by Inter Milan, Napoli won the season’s Serie A.
He departed Manchester City after 10 years at the club, winning six Premier League titles, five League Cups and two FA Cups. In 2023, De Bruyne and his team won the club’s first Champions League title, completing a treble that season.
“It’s been unbelievable to have the 10 years that I had with everything that happened here. It’s been an unbelievable ride and an absolute pleasure,” De Bruyne said of his City exit.
“It was a joy working really hard to try and help create something that brought the club the success we enjoyed. I’m super proud to have played a part in that.
“Manchester has been my home and my family’s home for these past 10 years.”
At Napoli, he will reunite with former Premier League midfielders Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour as well as Romelu Lukaku, the Belgian striker. On Monday, the pair were in action for Belgium’s 4-3 victory against Wales in a World Cup qualifier with De Bruyne snatching a late winner from close range.
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