By Nwaduba Gerald
MANCHESTER
Manchester City’s midfield talisman Kevin De Bruyne played his final home game at the Etihad Stadium on Monday night, marking the end of a historic 10-year spell with a 3–1 victory over Bournemouth.
The Belgian maestro, widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, was given a hero’s send-off in front of a capacity crowd. De Bruyne’s final appearance at home was punctuated by emotional tributes, a guard of honour, and a visibly tearful manager, Pep Guardiola. There are also reports that the club is planning to immortalize his legacy with a statue at the Etihad.
De Bruyne joined City in 2015 from German side VfL Wolfsburg for a then-club record fee of £54 million—a move that was met with some skepticism given his earlier underwhelming stint in England with Chelsea. However, his decade-long tenure in Manchester would go on to silence all doubters.
In his debut season, De Bruyne registered seven goals and nine league assists, offering a glimpse of the brilliance to come. Over 421 appearances in all competitions for City, he amassed 108 goals and an astonishing 177 assists. His accolades include six Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League crown, two FA Cups, and five League Cups.
Known for his inch-perfect passing, visionary playmaking, and thunderous strikes from distance, De Bruyne also claimed three Premier League Playmaker of the Season awards, two PFA Players’ Player of the Year honours, and two Premier League Player of the Season titles.
Despite battling injuries in recent seasons, the 33-year-old midfielder consistently demonstrated his quality whenever fit, often steering City to silverware with decisive contributions.
As De Bruyne prepares to embark on the next chapter of his career, speculation swirls around his future destination. Yet, his status at Manchester City is unshakable.
After a decade of dominance, creativity, and leadership, Kevin De Bruyne leaves the Etihad not just as a footballer, but as a legend—arguably the greatest to have ever worn the sky blue shirt.
Photo credits
Kevin De Bruyne on X
