Every football fan owes a debt of gratitude to Kevin De Bruyne for what he has done for the Premier League. Not just with his goals, his assists, his brilliant football and where he ranks in the pantheon. But for making sure it carried on.
Here is a story about De Bruyne. It was during Covid. At the height of when we did not know in which direction we were heading. Remember the sense of euphoria when it was announced that the Premier League would resume on June 17, 2020 as, after a three-month lay-off, “Project Restart” was given the go-ahead?
It was De Bruyne who persuaded the players that it would be OK.
During a captains’ meeting, on a Zoom call, the mood had been not to play. There was anxiety and doubt and the prevailing sense, with concerns over player safety, was to wait – which the Premier League regarded as a catastrophe for its future. It was struggling to win the argument.
Then De Bruyne, who represented Manchester City on the call even though David Silva was captain, spoke and he swayed opinion to such a degree that one Premier League official later said they would forever owe him a debt of gratitude.
That gratitude should extend to what the Belgian achieved on the pitch. Sure, the fans of rival clubs will be glad to see the back of him and it feels like it is something of an end of an era for City with Kyle Walker unlikely to play for the club again and maybe also Bernardo Silva leaving this summer.
Kevin De Bruyne's goals on repeat 😍 pic.twitter.com/koGuZ6jTUt
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 4, 2025
But De Bruyne’s announcement that his 10-year career at City is coming to a close with his contract expiring at the end of this campaign – when he will be close to his 34th birthday – leads to an inevitable debate: just where does he sit among the great midfielders to have graced the Premier League since its inception in 1992?
If there was a Mount Rushmore of midfielders would De Bruyne’s face be one of the four to be carved upon it?
In terms of impact, ability and achievement it is relatively easy to reel off a top eight: Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard, Patrick Vieira, Frank Lampard, Yaya Toure, David Silva and De Bruyne.
Others might argue for Cesc Fabregas or Rodri or Luka Modric (although he did not remain in the Premier League long enough and his greatness was achieved at Real Madrid) while Ryan Giggs would be classified more as a winger than a midfielder.
Which leads to another question: how do you distinguish between the combative, powerful force of Keane compared to the more technical, creative attributes of De Bruyne? ...
