De Bruyne to leave Man City at end of season

Belgium international Kevin De Bruyne announces he will leave the Premier League champions.

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has confirmed that he will leave the club at the end of the season.

De Bruyne, 33, has won 14 major trophies since joining City from Wolfsburg in 2015, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023.

“Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here – and you deserve to hear it from me first,” De Bruyne said in a post on social media on Friday.

“Football led me to all of you – and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing 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.”

Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne celebrates with the trophy after winning the Premier League last season [File: Molly Darlington/Reuters]

The Belgian international has been instrumental in City’s rise to the dominant force in English football.

He was twice crowned players’ player of the year in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 and is second in the Premier League’s all-time standings for assists on 118.

His contract is due to expire at the end of June, but it remains unclear whether he will continue to see out his days as a City player at the Club World Cup, which runs from June 14 until July 13.

“Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter,” De Bruyne added. “Let’s enjoy these last moments together!”

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Al Jazeera and news agencies