De Bruyne will become a free agent on June 30 and will leave Manchester City for current Italian champions – and Jack Grealish may be next out the door
16:03, 26 May 2025Updated 16:04, 26 May 2025
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne receives applause
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne receives applause
Kevin De Bruyne is poised to join Napoli after agreeing a three year deal with the Italian champions. The news was confirmed after Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis revealed he'd spoken to De Bruyne - and that the Belgium superstar has bought a house in the region.
De Bruyne will become a free agent on June 30 after being told he can leave Manchester City.
It's understood he will not travel to the Club World Cup with Pep Guardiola's squad next month, now he has found a new club.
The midfielder has snubbed offers from the Saudi Pro League and MLS in favour of Napoli, who have offered him a £15m deal until 2028.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 22: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Aston Villa FC at Etihad Stadium on April 22, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images)
Kevin De Bruyne will leave Manchester City at the end of this season(Image: Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images)
When asked if Napoli fans would see De Bruyne in action next season, De Laurentiis said: "Probably, yes. I know that he has already bought, or rather I believe he has already bought, a beautiful house.
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"This morning I spoke to him, his wife and his nine-year-old son on a video call. We can’t say it (confirm the deal), until we have something in black and white. We are serious, that I know."
City, meanwhile, will consider offers for record signing Jack Grealish this summer. But club bosses fear his £300,000-a-week wages could provide a major stumbling block in their attempts to get him out of the Etihad.
Grealish has endured a miserable season with Pep Guardiola's side.
This culminated in him being axed from Guardiola's squad altogether for the final game of the campaign at Fulham last weekend.
The attacking midfielder started just 20 league games and scored five goals, having suffered a dramatic loss of form.
Jack Grealish didn't get a kick in the FA Cup Final
Jack Grealish could also be on his way out(Image: Getty Images)
To make matters worse, Grealish has also found himself out of the England squad and in the international wilderness.
Guardiola is expected to make some significant signings this summer, as he looks to strengthen a team which has failed to win silverware this season and seen Liverpool replace them as English champions.
Guardiola has insisted he doesn't have a problem with Grealish.
But following talks between Guardiola and Grealish, it has become clear that a fresh start somewhere else would suit both parties.
Grealish is keen to secure more regular first team football, in a bid to make Thomas Tuchel's England squad for next summer's World Cup.
City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak will be keen to recoup a significant chunk of the British record £100m it cost his club to sign Grealish from Aston Villa in the first place.
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But it is more likely Grealish will be allowed to go out on a season-long loan, with City subsidising a significant amount of his wages.