Kevin De Bruyne has officially signed for Napoli, bringing his decade-long spell at Manchester City to a close at the end of the Premier League season.
The Belgian midfielder, 33, links up with Antonio Conte, the former Chelsea and Tottenham manager who now leads the reigning Serie A champions.
De Bruyne’s move to Italy came as a free transfer after rejecting a lucrative offer from Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire.
His switch to Napoli ensures he will continue playing in the Champions League next season.
Napoli announced De Bruyne’s arrival with a computer-generated image showing him seated on a throne wearing a crown, alongside the caption: “King Kev is here.”
De Bruyne leaves City having amassed an extraordinary collection of 19 major trophies since arriving from Wolfsburg in 2015.
During his time at the Etihad Stadium, he played a crucial role in securing six Premier League titles, five League Cups, two FA Cups, and, most notably, City’s first-ever Champions League title in 2023.
That historic European triumph also completed a Treble, making City only the second English club to achieve the feat.
City confirmed his departure before the end of the season, with De Bruyne receiving an emotional send-off from fans during his final home appearance against Bournemouth in May. He also featured briefly in City’s final domestic game at Fulham.
Reflecting on his time at Manchester City, De Bruyne said: “It’s been unbelievable to have had these 10 years with everything that’s happened here. It’s been an incredible journey and an absolute pleasure.
I worked hard to help build something special and I’m incredibly proud to have played my part in the club’s success. Manchester has been home for me and my family for the past decade.”
With De Bruyne’s exit leaving a significant creative void, City have moved swiftly to reinforce their midfield, bringing in Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan and Rayan Cherki from Lyon.
Napoli, who narrowly triumphed in a thrilling Serie A title race last season, will now count De Bruyne among their star players as they prepare for another Champions League campaign.
He joins a midfield that includes former Premier League players Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour.
There’s a chance De Bruyne could face his former club in Europe next season, as he continues his career at the highest level in Italy.
