On April 4, 2025, football fans were hit with a seismic announcement: Kevin De Bruyne, the Belgian midfield maestro and Manchester City’s talisman, will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

The news broke via a post on X by Fabrizio Romano, a trusted football journalist known for his transfer scoops, sending shockwaves through the footballing world.

De Bruyne, who joined City in 2015 from Wolfsburg, has been the heartbeat of the team for a decade, leading them to six Premier League titles, a Champions League triumph in 2023, and numerous domestic honors.

His departure marks the end of an era for the Sky Blues, where he redefined the role of a modern midfielder with his pinpoint passing, vision, and leadership.

De Bruyne’s impact at Manchester City is nothing short of legendary. The 33-year-old, who has captained the side in recent years, was instrumental in their historic 100-point Premier League campaign in 2017-18 and played a pivotal role in their 2022-23 treble-winning season, which included the club’s first-ever Champions League title.

His ability to dictate games with long-range passes and score crucial goals earned him two PFA Players’ Player of the Year awards, cementing his status as one of the Premier League’s all-time greats.

Fans on X expressed a mix of gratitude and sadness, with one calling him “the best midfielder in Premier League history” and another noting his consistency since his Wolfsburg days.

Manchester City, however, seems prepared for this transition.

Recent reports suggest that manager Pep Guardiola has been eyeing Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz as a potential successor to fill De Bruyne’s creative void.

The club is also rumored to be planning a squad overhaul, with players like Jack Grealish potentially on the way out to fund new signings.

As De Bruyne bids farewell, speculation about his next destination—possibly San Diego FC or a Saudi club—adds intrigue to this unfolding story.

One thing is certain: the Premier League will feel his absence deeply.