During the 2015–16 season, Kevin De Bruyne made a significant impact on Manchester City after his record-breaking transfer. Signing a six-year contract, he quickly justified his price tag, scoring his first goal against West Ham United and later contributing to victories in the League Cup and the Premier League. De Bruyne’s stellar performances earned him a spot on the FIFA Ballon d’Or shortlist.
In the 2016–17 season, De Bruyne continued to shine. He played a pivotal role in the Manchester derby, securing a 2–1 win, and showcased his versatility with goals and assists against Bournemouth and FC Barcelona. His contributions helped City reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in their history.
The Belgian attacking midfielder recently announced his decision to part ways with the Premier League giants, Man City, following a decade-long spell at the Etihad Stadium. Kevin de Bruyne’s current contract expires at the end of the ongoing 2024/25 season. He is set to leave the English giants as a free agent in the summer of 2025.
In 1997, Kevin De Bruyne commenced his football journey with KVV Drongen, later moving to Gent in 1999 and subsequently joining Genk in 2005. Promoted to Genk’s first team in 2008, he debuted in May 2009 and became a key player the following season. De Bruyne’s impactful 2010–11 season included five goals and 16 assists, contributing to Genk’s Belgian championship win.
He showcased his talent further with a hat-trick in 2011 and transferred to Chelsea in 2012. Despite the move, he continued to excel for Genk, concluding the season with eight goals in 28 appearances, capping it with a 3–1 win over Gent.
On the winter transfer deadline day, January 31, 2012, Chelsea and Genk announced the permanent signing of Kevin De Bruyne for a reported fee of around £7 million. Despite signing a five-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge, he remained with Genk for the rest of the 2011–12 season. De Bruyne expressed his excitement about joining Chelsea but acknowledged the need to work hard to meet the club’s standards. He made his Chelsea debut on July 18, 2012, in a friendly against Seattle Sounders FC and played the first half against Paris Saint-Germain in New York City.
De Bryune made his senior debut for Belgium in 2010 and has played 107 matches across the European Championship, FIFA World Cup and UEFA Nations League. He also scored 30 times and assisted 52 times and currently serves as the captain of his country.
Kevin De Bruyne has enjoyed a highly decorated career with notable achievements at both club and international levels. Starting with Genk, he secured the Belgian Pro League (2010–11), Belgian Cup (2008–09), and Belgian Super Cup (2011). His time with VfL Wolfsburg included triumphs in the DFB-Pokal (2014–15) and DFL-Supercup (2015).
However, his most significant successes came at Manchester City, where he clinched multiple Premier League titles (2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23), FA Cups (2018–19, 2022–23), EFL Cups (2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21), FA Community Shield (2019), and the UEFA Champions League (2022–23). On the international stage, he won the FIFA World Cup third place with Belgium in 2018.
De Bruyne’s accolades are equally impressive, ranging from Bundesliga Player of the Year (2014–15) to multiple appearances in UEFA Teams of the Year. He has been honoured as Premier League Player of the Season, PFA Players’ Player of the Year, and UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Season.
His achievements extend to prestigious awards, such as the Ballon d’Or (3rd place in 2022) and recognition in the IFFHS UEFA Team of the Decade (2011–2020). With a remarkable list of honours, De Bruyne has solidified his status as one of football’s most accomplished and celebrated players. No European player has delivered more assists at international tournaments than Kevin De Bruyne since 2014.