Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City’s iconic midfield figure, could well bid farewell to the Etihad at the end of the current season, according to exclusive reports from GIVEMESPORT. Aged 33, he has reportedly expressed keen interest in taking on a new challenge, fueling rumors about his imminent departure.
While the Citizens managed to convince Pep Guardiola to extend his contract by two years last month—a deal that cements his position as manager for a remarkable decade—the Premier League champions face a daunting task to retain their Belgian superstar.
With Little Begiristain at the helm of negotiations for new terms, the sporting director is expected to step down at the end of the season, paving the way for Hugo Viana like his successor. However, persuading De Bruyne to make a firm commitment to a new deal could prove difficult, as he continues to contemplate his future.
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Notably, De Bruyne’s camp has expressed an interest in a move to Major League Soccer, San Diego FC reportedly being involved in transfer talks as they prepare for their first season in MLS. Source reports indicate a general feeling that these months could well be De Bruyne’s last in a City shirt, sparking enthusiasm among American clubs.
The midfielder’s lucrative £400,000-a-week contract will expire in June, putting City in grave danger of losing him for free at the end of the season, not to mention the possibility of De Bruyne negotiating a pre-contract with foreign clubs as early as next month.
Sources in California suggest San Diego FC are keen to secure De Bruyne for the 2025 season, a move that would mark his MLS debut at a time when negotiations for an extension with Manchester City appear to be slipping.
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Since arriving at the club for a record £55 million fee from Wolfsburg in August 2015, De Bruyne has been pivotal in City’s golden era. However, after recent injuries sidelined him, his impact on matches has noticeably diminished, sparking concerns about his immediate future.
Statistically, De Bruyne has scored a Premier League goal every 315 minutes this season, a figure which underlines his current difficulties in getting back to his level.
Despite speculation, internal sources have indicated that a January departure for the Belgium international remains unlikely. The club’s lack of depth in midfield means losing him mid-season could disrupt their campaign. So, City could wait to keep him until at least the summer, unless they manage to strengthen their midfield options in the upcoming January transfer window.
San Diego FC, who are already showing their ambition by signing Hirving Lozano for a fee of £9.5 million from PSV Eindhoven, are keen to ensure they make a significant noise in the league’s transfer market, although he There are currently no negotiations underway between them and City for De Bruyne.
If Manchester City manage to sign two new midfielders during the winter window, their stance on De Bruyne’s departure could change, but for now a January departure is considered unlikely.
Looking to the future, if De Bruyne opts to stay at City, he will face a significant pay cut, a topic that will certainly come up in discussions with Begiristain and other club officials in the near future.
As always, all statistics mentioned are credited to Sofascoreaccurate as of 12/16/2024.
