Kevin De Bruyne Joins Napoli After Decade of Glory with Manchester City

 Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, 33, signed a three-year contract with Italian Serie A champions Napoli, marking the end of his trophy-laden decade at Manchester City, as announced by the club and reported by Corriere dello Sport.

The transfer, valued at €15 million, fulfills De Bruyne’s desire for a new challenge after leaving City at the end of the 2024-25 season, where he played 378 matches, scoring 102 goals and providing 170 assists, per the provided sports card. The move, a coup for Napoli, bolsters their Champions League ambitions under manager Antonio Conte, as the club targets a second consecutive Serie A title.

De Bruyne, a five-time Premier League winner, cited Napoli’s “passionate fans” and Conte’s “tactical vision” in a press conference at Naples’ Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, per ESPN. His City tenure, marked by 14 major trophies including the 2023 Champions League, ended amid injury concerns and contract disputes, with City’s Pep Guardiola praising him as a “generational talent,” per Sky Sports. Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis highlighted De Bruyne’s playmaking, expecting synergy with Victor Osimhen, per Il Mattino. The transfer, finalized after City rejected a Saudi Pro League bid, reflects De Bruyne’s focus on European football, per The Athletic.

Serie A president Lorenzo Casini welcomed the signing, predicting a boost in global viewership, per Reuters, with Nigeria’s 20 million Serie A fans, per DSTV data, a key market. Nigeria’s Sports Minister John Enoh noted De Bruyne’s influence, citing his mentorship of African players, per Vanguard. Critics, including La Gazzetta dello Sport’s Luigi Garlando, questioned De Bruyne’s fitness at 33, but Conte’s staff, including fitness coach Gianluca Conte, affirmed a tailored training plan. The move, a high-profile shift in European football, positions Napoli as a powerhouse, with De Bruyne set to debut against Juventus in July 2025, as the club chases historic success.