The talented Belgian playmaker, who began his career at his boyhood club Genk, had a rocky start in the Premier League with Chelsea before finding his form at Wolfsburg. This led to a second chance with City, a move that transformed his career.
City’s head coach, Pep Guardiola, shares a common sentiment that De Bruyne deserves a statue outside the club’s stadium. This notion goes beyond his impressive statistics, as his impact on the team has been profound.
Since joining in August 2015, De Bruyne has been a crucial factor in City’s unprecedented period of success. While he may not be primarily known for his goal-scoring, he stepped up when needed, but it is his extraordinary playmaking skills that truly set him apart.
His innate ability to control the game’s tempo has solidified his legendary status within the club. However, as with all great careers, this one must also come to an end. Although the announcement of his departure seemed sudden, it felt inevitable, especially considering how he has gradually been phased out of the team. This final campaign has been his least impactful in a City jersey, and injuries have often kept him sidelined for significant periods over recent seasons.
As De Bruyne heads into his final Manchester derby, where he has previously made 20 appearances against United, scoring three goals and creating six assists, it has been a difficult season for him. So far, he has only netted twice and assisted on five goals. In fact, when reviewing his previous seasons in which he played at least 1,000 minutes, these numbers mark his weakest performance in both categories.
While it may seem like he is limping toward the exit, De Bruyne leaves behind a remarkable legacy. “Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter,” he shared on social media. “Football led me to all of you—and to this city. Chasing my dream, I didn’t know that 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.”
Kevin De Bruyne in the Premier League since he joined Man City in 2015:
◉ Most chances created (827)
◉ Most big chances created (193)
◉ Most assists (117)One of the best midfielders in PL history. 👏 pic.twitter.com/PuLqLvbABV
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 4, 2025
His struggles this season aren’t entirely surprising, as the 33-year-old has played just 1,102 minutes in the Premier League—fewer only than the 974 minutes he played in the 2018/19 season due to various injuries.
However, De Bruyne’s impact will never be forgotten. Much like his former Chelsea teammate Mohamed Salah, he rebounded from a lacklustre period at Stamford Bridge to return to the Premier League and excel.
After leaving Chelsea for Wolfsburg, De Bruyne thrived in Germany, recording the most assists in Europe’s top five leagues during the 2014-15 season with 20 assists and leading the Bundesliga in open-play chances created with 74.
This success led City to pay a reported £55 million for his services, and it may have been the best investment the club has ever made. Over ten seasons at the Etihad Stadium, De Bruyne has won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five EFL Cups, and a UEFA Champions League. He could ...
