Chicago Fire make Kevin de Bruyne offer - Fabrizio Romano

Tom Weber

Updated: 16 Apr 2025 16:48 BST
4 min read

Major League Soccer franchise Chicago Fire have made an approach for Kevin de Bruyne, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Article continues under the video

The Belgian superstar will leave Manchester City this summer after it was recently announced that his contract at the Etihad will not be extended beyond the current season.

STATS

Kevin De Bruyne

M, AM (C)

Man City

Kevin De Bruyne

M, AM (C)

Man City

33

Games
5

Goals
8

Assists

After ten illustrious years at Man City, De Bruyne is looking for a new challenge and he has no shortage of suitors. Despite recently hinting that he could be open to staying in the Premier League, it is thought that his future lies elsewhere.

Saudi clubs dream of bringing the 33-year-old to the Middle East, but it is as yet unclear whether such a move would appeal to De Bruyne. MLS has been deemed a more realistic destination for him.

After more than a year of speculation, concrete developments regarding a potential transfer stateside are now beginning to take shape.

De Bruyne to Chicago?

Last year, it seemed as though De Bruyne would be on his way to San Diego to link up with MLS' newest franchise, but these reports were recently rubbished when it emerged that Inter Miami actually hold the midfielder's Discovery Rights.

The Discovery Rights mechanism essentially gives a club the option of first refusal on a player and other MLS sides with an interest in said player first have to acquire his rights via trade.

Lionel Messi's Miami franchise do have an interest in De Bruyne, according to Sky Germany, but Fabrizio Romano now reports that the Chicago Fire have made the first move.

According to the transfer insider, the Fire have made an initial approach to De Bruyne to present their project to him. Romano reports that a deal is 'on' but also states that De Bruyne has not yet made a final decision.

Chicago would first have to trade for De Bruyne's rights before being able to enter formal negotiations with him. The Fire have a habit of attracting big-name stars, but tangible success has proved elusive for almost 20 years.

Despite previously signing the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Xherdan Shaqiri, the Fire have not won a major trophy since 2006. In fact, they have been one of MLS' weaker sides over the past decade.