The rumours started during the season until they eventually became reality. The midfield maestro, the king of the assists and the best City ginger since Steve Lomas, called time on a glittering Manchester City career and has now joined Napoli on a free transfer.
The Belgian, whose transfer fee of £55m from Wolfsburg was described by Paul Merson as an ‘absolute joke’ stunned the faithful in April when he announced that he would be leaving the Blues at the end of the season.
It marks the end of an extraordinary decade with the club, with his legacy firmly etched into the Etihad fabric. The midfielder bagged 108 goals in 422 appearances across all competitions, but it was his assists that proved the difference on numerous occasions. 170 chances converted, set up by the maestro, made him the Premier League true assist king. The star would often dictate the tempo, splitting defences with passes only he could see and complete, and scoring crucial goals from outside the box with either foot. Six Premier League titles, five League Cups, two FA Cups, and the coveted UEFA Champions League speak volumes of his direct impact on City’s era of unprecedented dominance.
His move to Napoli, completed after rumoured talks with Liverpool, will leave a void that is not merely tactical, but emotional and philosophical. How does a club, accustomed to relentless success, navigate the departure of a player whose vision, precision and sheer brilliance consistently unlocked the most stubborn defences?
For years, de Bruyne was more than just statistics. More than goals and more than assists. He was the beating heart of Pep Guardiola’s machine. His unique vision, tireless work rate and leadership on the field made him indispensable, season after season. But injuries took their toll somewhat, and in the last couple of years, the Belgian had been spending more and more time on the injury table.
Despite this, he was still an irreplaceable figure in the City engine room, so how will City replace him? The answer is not in finding another Kevin De Bruyne – there may not be another like him for a long time, if at all. Instead, City will need to rely on a combination of tactical evolution, nurturing the existing talent and new signings to collectively fill the immense void. So, who could take over from King Kev and drive City to more success?
Bernardo Silva – The New Skipper
In an unprecedented move, Guardiola himself appointed Bernardo Silva as the new club captain, which goes against his usual philosophy of allowing the team to choose. This may be a clear signal of the Portuguese star’s increased importance and leadership in the team. Bernardo has always possessed amazing close control and vision, not to mention his tireless work rate. He can operate in various attacking midfield roles and will now be tasked with taking on a larger share of the chance creation, linking play, and driving the team forward from deeper positions. After a few years of speculation, confirmation of him staying for the 2025/26 season is a massive boost.
Phil Foden - The Heir Apparent
For years, the question of when Phil Foden be unleashed centrally has been at the forefront of the Faithful’s minds. Our Phil didn’t have a great season last time around but his performances at the Club World Cup so far look to have him back to his best and, with De Bruyne’s departure, this could be his moment. Foden has excelled on the wings, firmly demonstrating his dribbling, goalscoring and incisive passing. His ability to drift into dangerous areas, combining well with Erling Haaland and his understanding of Guardiola’s system, makes him a prime candidate to occupy more central and creative roles.
Tijjani Reijnders – The New Boy
Arriving from AC Milan for a reported £46.5m, Tijjani Reijnders is a dynamic central midfielder. Although described as a classic box-to-box midfielder, Reijnders thrives on identifying and exploiting space and offers balance and attacking thrust in the engine room. Guardiola threw the Dutchman in for City’s first Club World Cup match, and he looked like he’d been there for years, fitting seamlessly into the City set-up. His ability to contribute to both attacking and defensive phases, along with his impressive 15-goal return from midfield last season, makes him a crucial piece of City’s new look midfield.
Life after KDB will require a period of adaptation for the Blues. There will be no singular player who can replicate his unique blend of passing, shooting and tactical intelligence. Instead, City will rely on a combination of all his talents together with the genius of Guardiola, who will determine which of the above will be most effective against the opposition.
While the magic of King Kev will be sorely missed, the relentless pursuit of perfection at Manchester City suggests that even without their irreplaceable maestro, the show, and the trophies, will undoubtedly go on.