Kevin De Bruyne: Bio, Career, Summary, Stats, Trophies and News

Kevin De Bruyne Family and Early Life

Kevin De Bruyne’s mother, of Belgian descent, was born in Burundi and lived in the Ivory Coast. Raised in London after her Flemish parents relocated for work, she returned to Belgium upon meeting De Bruyne’s father, Herwig. The family settled in Drongen, a sub-municipality in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium.

During De Bruyne’s childhood, he and his parents frequently visited his grandparents in London, considering it a second home. This tradition continued even after his move to Chelsea in 2012.
Kevin De Bruyne, born on June 28, 1991, is the son of Herwig De Bruyne and Anna De Bruyne. His father is involved in the oil investment business, while his mother works as a petroleum engineer. De Bruyne’s early years were marked by frequent relocations due to his father’s business commitments.

His football journey commenced at the age of four in his hometown, playing for KVV Drongen in 1997. However, he parted ways with the club after two years due to insufficient infrastructure and inadequate training facilities. Subsequently, he transitioned to Gent and later to Genk in 2005.

Playing Style and Strength

Kevin De Bruyne's magic lies in his vision and right foot accuracy. His ability to see passes that nobody else spots, threading through-balls that slice defenses open, or whipping crosses with perfect weight, almost like he’s playing the video game. Though he is not the quickest, his relentless energy drives make him more of a box-to-box player, and that rocket of a shot from distance keeps goalkeepers sweating in anticipation of incoming bullets that can come his way at any point.

Kevin De Bruyne Net Worth

Following Kevin De Bruyne’s contract renewal with Manchester City in 2021, his income saw a substantial 30 per cent boost, elevating him to one of the highest earners in English football. Reports indicate that he now commands a weekly salary of £400,000 per week, supplemented by performance-based bonuses tied to metrics such as assists and goals. As a prominent Belgian professional footballer, Kevin De Bruyne has amassed a notable net worth, estimated at £50 million.

After a successful loan stint with Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, De Bruyne was linked to a permanent move to Germany but returned to Chelsea in July 2013 after assurances from manager José Mourinho. Despite suffering a knee injury in a pre-season friendly, he made a competitive debut in the 2013–14 Premier League season, providing an assist in a 2–0 win against Hull City.

Kevin De Bruyne Salary

The Belgium international has been earning a staggering amount of money during his time at Man City, where he was getting paid £20.8 million annually before he decided to leave the club. As per Marca, Kevin De Bruyne will earn $6.8 million for the initial two years at Napoli; afterwards, he will get paid around $5.6 million for three years if he decides to join the Italian champions.

Kevin De Bruyne Wife

Caroline Lijnen, Kevin De Bruyne’s ex-girlfriend, became well-known for a while because she cheated on him with Thibaut Courtois. In 2014, De Bruyne entered into a relationship with Michele Lacroix. Kevin De Bruyne’s wife, Michele Lacroix and De Bruyne tied the knot in 2017 and are now parents to three children: Mason, Rome, and Suri. De Bruyne, mindful of their privacy, deliberately keeps his children out of the public eye, allowing them to grow without constant scrutiny.

Kevin De Bruyne Career

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.

Club Career

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.

International Career

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 Awards & Achievements

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.