Shock Premier League move or Saudi switch: What’s next for Kevin De Bruyne after Man City goodbye?

Robin Bairner

• 4 Apr 2025 07:00 CDT
• 5 min read

Analysis

Kevin De Bruyne has announced that he will leave Manchester City when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Writing on his social media accounts, the Man City icon wrote a heartfelt message of goodbye to fans, confirming the end to what he described as “the best chapter” of his career.

Current ETV

Kevin De Bruyne

M, AM (C)

Man City

Kevin De Bruyne

M, AM (C)

Man City

€26.6M

ETV Range

€23.9M - €29.2M

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Now De Bruyne, 33, must decide upon what could be his final move as a player.

After more than a decade at the top of the game, the Belgium international will be a much-coveted figure and will have numerous clubs scrambling to sign him.

If he chooses to move for footballing reasons alone, there are numerous interesting options that would suit him well, according to data analytics company SciSports.

Perhaps the most intriguing of these is Man City’s Premier League rivals Arsenal. The Gunners get a Club Fit score of 77, and while there are doubts over how much action he would get ahead of Martin Odegaard, the style and formation of his former Etihad colleague Mikel Arteta would suit him perfectly.

Other European giants all score well. Napoli hit a score of 79 on SciSports’ algorithm, which is calculated using a wide variety of factors ranging from potential development and playing time to style and formation.

Bayern Munich clock in at 76 along with PSG, while Juventus hit 75.

NEOM favourites to land De Bruyne

Of course, for De Bruyne, who has achieved it all at club level, this is likely to see him take a step back from the very elite level of the game. Instead, it is likely that he chooses an alternative that offers his family a new experience.

MLS franchise San Diego FC admitted that they tried to lure him to California, only for talks to falter.

“Kevin loves California; he comes here every year on vacation. I've already spoken with him. He doesn't fit into our budget at the moment,” San Diego sporting director Tyler Heaps admitted.

Instead, a transfer to Saudi Arabia is on the cards, with reports indicating that De Bruyne will move to NEOM SC, who currently top the second flight.

The Saudi outfit only get a Club Fit score of 24, but for De Bruyne it’s not really about what’s best for his football at this stage of his life.