**Officials at Manchester City are beginning to eye the longer-term future of Kevin De Bruyne as his contract at the Etihad Stadium continues to wind down.**
The Belgium international remains out of contract at the end of the ongoing season, and officials within the Etihad Stadium will need to weigh up whether to offer the 33-year-old a new deal or not in the coming weeks.
From the turn of the year, De Bruyne and his representatives will be free to speak to potential suitors from across the globe regarding the prospect of a free agent transfer during the summer months, with the Manchester City legend not short of interest.
The latest understanding is that a switch to Major League Soccer would be his preference, should he need to seek a fresh challenge away from the Etihad Stadium, whilst Saudi Arabia continue to view the midfielder as a league-changing figure, should they manager to lure him.
For now, Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester City’s sole focus will be maintaining his performance levels and fitness for the ongoing season, as both look to add yet another Premier League title to their ever-growing trophy cabinet.
But in the background, it appears as though City have begun eyeing their intentions when it comes to the Belgium international, and what they may be able to offer him away from the club should he be deemed surplus to requirements for the 2025/26 season and beyond.
According to the [information of The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/12/05/man-city-willing-offer-kevin-de-bruyne-move-sister-club/), Manchester City would consider offering Kevin De Bruyne a role at clubs within the City Football Group when he eventually moves on from his time at the Etihad Stadium.
The City Football Group also have involvement in Major League Soccer themselves through ownership of the now-iconic New York City FC club, who are heading in an exciting direction in the next few seasons.
NYCFC – from the 2027 season onwards – are due to play their home matches at ‘Etihad Park’ in the Willets Point neighbourhood of Queens, New York City, with the new arena privately financed and coming at a project cost of $780 million.
Naming rights were recently sold off to Etihad Airways in a blockbuster move for both New York City FC and the wider City Football Group, with the Abu Dhabi airline also being the club’s current kit sponsor.
Whether or not Manchester City and the City Football Group eye a move for Kevin De Bruyne into the New York City FC project remains to be seen, particularly given the wealth of clubs they have at their disposal throughout the portfolio.