Everton linked with shock Kevin De Bruyne move as Italian report claims contact
Everton have reportedly contacted Kevin De Bruyne’s representatives to explore the possibility of signing the former Manchester City midfielder from Napoli in January.
The claim comes from Italian website Calciomercato.it, which reported on Monday that the Blues had made an initial approach to establish whether a move could be possible. The story was subsequently picked up by Sport Witness on Tuesday morning.
Italian report claims Everton have made contact
According to Calciomercato.it, De Bruyne could be open to returning to the Premier League after struggling to reproduce his Manchester City form in Italy. The report claims Everton have approached his representatives to assess the chances of bringing him to Merseyside during the January transfer window.
However, the Italian outlet also acknowledges that Napoli could refuse to release the Belgian midfielder midway through the season. There is no reported bid to Napoli, no agreement over personal terms and no confirmation from either club that negotiations are taking place.
De Bruyne, 35, joined Napoli on a free transfer in June 2025 after spending a decade at Manchester City, where he won six Premier League titles and the Champions League. His contract with the Italian club runs until 2027, with an option for a further year.
Advertisement
Why an Everton move looks difficult
De Bruyne’s ability and experience are not in question, but the prospect of a January move to Everton raises several obvious concerns. His age, fitness record and likely wages would all need to be considered, while Napoli would have to agree to let him leave.
The timing is also notable given David Moyes’ recent comments about the club’s transfer plans. Asked before last week’s victory over Coventry City whether Everton were planning January signings, the manager replied: “No. At the moment, there’s no plans for January, no.”
Moyes’ comments do not rule out the possibility of Everton making enquiries, particularly about a player with De Bruyne’s pedigree. Nevertheless, there is a considerable difference between sounding out a player’s representatives and putting together a deal that both the player and his club would accept.
For now, the reported contact rests on a claim from Calciomercato.it, relayed by Sport Witness, rather than independent confirmation of an Everton approach. It is an intriguing link, but there is little evidence at this stage that a January transfer is a realistic prospect.
Advertisement
For all the latest Everton news, reaction and analysis, visit our Everton news page.**
Gary Gowers is a sports journalist and the editor of Read Everton, where he leads daily coverage of Everton news, transfers and analysis. He also writes about Manchester City for Read Man City and motorsport for Read Motorsport. A former accountant, he became a freelance writer in 2011 and has written for BBC Sport and Metro.
View all articles →
Comments
Loading comments…
More from our Read Network