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Kevin De Bruyne has opened up about the moment he was told Manchester City would not be offering him a new deal, confirming it was the club’s call — not his. The 33-year-old admitted he was left stunned after learning of the decision in a brief meeting with City’s Director of Football Txiki Begiristain and CEO Ferran Soriano.
“There was a little bit of shock. I didn’t have any offer from them all year. The club made a decision. Obviously, I was a bit surprised but I have to accept it,” De Bruyne said after City’s win at Everton.
Pep Guardiola, though involved in the decision, wasn’t present when the news was delivered.
Struggling in Silence
The Belgian midfielder said the days between being told and announcing his departure on social media were some of the toughest of his career. With his wife and children away on holiday, De Bruyne said he had to process the news alone.
“It wasn’t nice. You don’t know what to do with the emotion and how to handle it at the club. When I came out publicly, it felt like a relief.”
He also mentioned that sharing the news helped him reset mentally, and that he’s focused on finishing the season strong — whether it ends at Wembley or in the final league fixture against Bournemouth.
Open to the Right Move
With his contract expiring this summer, De Bruyne has plenty of interest from abroad, including MLS and Saudi Arabia. But he hasn’t ruled out staying in England.
“I still feel like I have a lot to give. I know I’m not 25 anymore, but I can still do my job. I’m open to anything. I need to think about my family and the full picture.”
De Bruyne said any decision will be made with his wife Michele and their three young children in mind.
Changing of the Guard at the Etihad
De Bruyne’s exit comes as City prepare for a busy summer. Linked with midfield targets like Morgan Gibbs-White and Florian Wirtz, the club is clearly looking to inject youth and energy into a squad that’s beginning to show its age.
Guardiola has already spoken this season about needing players who can consistently play at a high tempo. De Bruyne, returning from injury earlier in the year, believes that City’s struggles this season may have tipped the balance against him.
“Maybe if the team didn’t struggle, and I came back like normal, they might have made a different choice. I don’t know. It wasn’t a long conversation. They told me the decision, and that was that.”
Legacy Locked In
If De Bruyne doesn’t feature in the Club World Cup this summer, his final appearance for City will either come at Wembley — if they beat Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semi-final — or on the final day of the Premier League season.
With 119 Premier League assists (only Ryan Giggs has more) and 16 trophies in a City shirt, De Bruyne departs as one of the most influential players in the club’s history. His exit also marks the end of an era — he’s the last remaining squad member from before Guardiola’s arrival in 2016.
Ten years, countless moments, and now one final goodbye.
