West Ham United’s ambition cannot be faulted, having made an audacious attempt to lure Manchester City legend and six-time Premier League champion Kevin de Bruyne to the London Stadium.
Hammers News can confirm that West Ham United did indeed check in with the Belgian icon to assess his interest regarding a fresh start in the English capital.
Kevin de Bruyne certainly offered some encouragement. He would not rule out joining another Premier League club with his Manchester City contract set to expire.
One of the all-time City greats he most certainly is. But the decision to part ways was one made by the club rather than by the player. A player who obviously feels he still has a lot left to offer, even if his brilliance has been diminished by the sands of time.
In truth, a De Bruyne – West Ham link up always felt unlikely, though. Especially once Napoli – Scudetto holders and Champions League-bound – offered one of the greatest playmakers of the 21st century the chance to extend his stay at the elite level.
Though you can’t blame the Hammers for asking.
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Napoli ‘close’ to signing Kevin de Bruyne as West Ham dream dies
Napoli have offered Kevin de Bruyne a three-year deal worth an initial £97,000-a-week.
News that Antonio Conte is staying to defend his latest Serie A title – the former Juventus and Inter Milan boss is the first to win the Scudetto with three different clubs – may just have been the turning point in the Partenopei’s hopes of holding off competition from the MLS and Chicago Fire.
Because speaking just days after Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku secured Napoli their second title in three years – runners-up Inter lost out on a tense final day – director Giovanni Manna has now confirmed that De Bruyne is on the verge of swapping one sky blue shirt for another.
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🚨🔵 Napoli’s proposal to Kevin De Bruyne will be valid for three years.
€6m/net salary per year for first two seasons, €5m/net for third season plus signing fee.
KDB, expected to announce his decision soon as he still has Chicago Fire proposal on the table.@MatteMoretto🤝 pic.twitter.com/wlPsbUhcna
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 24, 2025
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“We feel closer to getting Kevin De Bruyne deal done,” Manna says. “We are definitely close”.
Napoli president confirms De Bruyne talks as West Ham plan summer ‘reinvention’
A Hammers News source confirms that West Ham plan to ‘reinvent’ Graham Potter’s squad this summer. There will be a focus on young, up-and-coming players, as a deal for Celtic teenager Daniel Cummings edges towards completion.
West Ham have already signed Joel Kerr from Glentoran.
A soon-to-be 34-year-old Kevin de Bruyne would represent an immediate departure from that plan, of course.
This is one West Ham likely viewed as a ‘market opportunity’. An unexpected chance to bring one of the finest footballers on planet earth to the London Stadium without spending a penny in transfer fees.
As far as Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis knows, however, De Bruyne has already done his fair share of househunting in southern Italy.
“Until it is all down on paper, you don’t announce something. We’re serious people,” De Laurentiis admitted this week. “[But] I know he’s already checked out a few things, or I even think he’s already bought a lovely place.
“This morning I was on a video call with him, his wife and his nine-year-old boy and it was a lovely sight.”