Frank Christian
Kevin De Bruyne is poised to make his final appearance for Manchester City this Sunday against Fulham.
The Belgian midfielder received an emotional send-off at the Etihad Stadium earlier this week following City’s 3-1 victory over Bournemouth. He had previously revealed that he would depart at the season’s end when his contract expires.
Speculation about his future has been rampant, especially since De Bruyne noted that the decision to leave wasn’t solely his, as he feels he still has a lot to contribute at the highest level. It now appears he will have the opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities.
As reported by Jack Gaughan from the Mail, De Bruyne is likely to join Napoli within the next couple of weeks, with the agreement expected to be wrapped up after the conclusion of City’s Premier League season.
Here’s the latest update regarding his upcoming transfer.
Kevin De Bruyne on the verge of joining Napoli
Jack Gaughan from the Mail reported on May 24 that De Bruyne is set to sign with Napoli in the weeks following the end of the Premier League season on May 25.
This development follows weeks of conjecture regarding the player’s next steps. In addition to being linked with Napoli, he was also a target for MLS team Chicago Fire. However, De Bruyne’s desire to continue playing in the competitive European leagues may have influenced his choice.
Could not have asked for a better goodbye. All we can say as a family is: THANK YOU! @ManCity pic.twitter.com/sdkqs8Gw2S
— Kevin De Bruyne (@KevinDeBruyne) May 21, 2025
Potential contract and salary details with Napoli
De Bruyne is reportedly interested in a two-year contract with the Serie A side. While the duration should not pose an issue for Napoli, his salary could be a sticking point.
As one of the top earners in the Premier League, De Bruyne’s previous contract with Manchester City was valued around £400,000 ($537,000) per week, translating to approximately £20.8 million ($27.9 million) per year. Such figures likely exceed Napoli’s financial means.
According to Capology, Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic currently holds the title of the highest-paid player in Italy’s Serie A, earning close to £315,000 ($424,000) weekly.
Meanwhile, Napoli’s highest-paid player, Romelu Lukaku, earns about £125,000 ($166,000) per week. Thus, De Bruyne will almost certainly need to accept a significant pay reduction to reach an agreement.
