Kevin De Bruyne has completed his transfer to Napoli. The Belgian midfielder joins on a free transfer from Manchester City, where he played for ten years. According to various media, De Bruyne has signed with the Italian champion until mid-2027, with an option for another season.
De Bruyne already said goodbye to City in April, which did not extend his expiring contract. The Belgian international has been linked to clubs from Saudi Arabia and the MLS in recent months, but will continue his career at Napoli.
De Bruyne received a hero’s welcome at the airport in Rome. A crowd of Napoli fans had awaited the veteran.
At City, De Bruyne earned 25 million euros annually according to English media. In Italy, he will reportedly have to settle for around 6 million euros per year. That amount can increase through bonuses.
De Bruyne previously played for VfL Wolfsburg, Chelsea, KRC Genk and Werder Bremen. He won by far the most prizes with City. In England, he won six league titles, two FA Cups and five League Cups. He also won the Champions League with City in 2023 and the Club World Cup a year later.
With Napoli, De Bruyne will also enter the Champions League. The Neapolitans crowned themselves Italian champions for the fourth time at the end of May. At the Serie A club, De Bruyne meets his compatriot and friend Romelu Lukaku, who has played there since 2024.