Kevin De Bruyne Set to Join Napoli

Rabat – Kevin De Bruyne is on the verge of ending a decade at Manchester City after reaching a verbal agreement to join Napoli on a free transfer once his contract expires on 30 June. 

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano says final paperwork is being completed today, clearing the path for the Belgian player to become Antonio Conte’s headline signing of the summer. 

The 33-year-old will fly to Napoli on Thursday for medical tests before signing a two-year contract that includes an option for a third season.

 According to multiple Italian outlets, the contract will pay about €6 million net per year for the first two campaigns, dropping to €5 million in the optional third, plus a signing-on bonus befitting his free-agent status. 

De Bruyne departs England as one of the Premier League’s defining players: 422 appearances, 108 goals and 177 assists for City, with six league titles and the club’s first Champions League crown on his career. 

Even in an injury-interrupted 2024-25 season, he produced 4 goals and 7 assists in 28 Premier League matches, still averaging a direct goal involvement every 155 minutes. 

Napoli coach Antonio Conte, who won Serie A in his debut season, sees De Bruyne as the creative core to reinforce his 4-3-3 formation. The Belgian can drop deep alongside Scott McTominay and Andre Anguissa to control the tempo, or push forward behind Lukaku to break defenses. 

For Napoli, the move is opportunistic. By bringing a Champions League-winning playmaker without paying a transfer fee, if De Bruyne delivers a bit of his Etihad form, he can help Napoli defend their Serie A title and mount a deep Champions League run.