De Bruyne to join Napoli | OneFootball

Kevin De Bruyne is to join Italian side Napoli bringing an end to a hugely successful 10-year stay with Manchester City.

Over the course of what was a remarkable decade at the Etihad, the Belgian midfielder went on to establish himself as one of the finest players ever to represent the Club.

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De Bruyne also proved an instrumental factor in helping inspire City to what has been the most successful period in the Club’s 131-year history.

A signing from German side Wolfsburg in the summer of 2015, De Bruyne helped City amass a remarkable 19 major trophies during his time here.

All told, the 33-year-old made 422 appearances for City, scoring 108 goals and registering 170 assists.

He made an immediate impact in his first season at City, helping the Club lift the 2016 Carabao Cup.

But it was the subsequent appointment of Pep Guardiola as manager in the summer of 2016 that saw De Bruyne’s influence truly come to the fore.

His creativity, technique, eye for goal and play-making abilities helped establish him as one of the key pivots in a City side that went on to create a host of domestic records in what has been an era of unparalleled success.

Across the course of his 10-year stay at City, De Bruyne won six Premier League titles, five League Cups and two FA Cups as well as helping us to our first ever Champions League, alongside UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup successes.

Amongst a host of individual honours, De Bruyne was also twice named as the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Season.

In an emotional on-pitch farewell ceremony after his final home appearance against Bournemouth last month, it was confirmed a statue honouring De Bruyne outside the Etihad Stadium had been commissioned by Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

And speaking at the Etihad after his on-pitch farewell ceremony, De Bruyne said the memories he had made at City would last a lifetime.

“It’s been unbelievable to have the 10 years that I had with everything that happened here. It’s been an unbelievable ride and an absolute pleasure,” De Bruyne reflected.

“It was a joy working really hard to try and help create something that brought the Club the success we enjoyed. I’m super proud to have played a part in that.

“Manchester has been my home and my family’s home for these past 10 years.

“Everybody pushed me so hard inside and outside the club to be the best version of myself. They made me so much better than I was before.

“And the City fans were so welcoming from the beginning and to have had a full stadium supporting me and family [was] indescribable.

“Thank you very much.”

Everyone at Manchester City wishes Kevin the very best of luck on this new chapter of his career.

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