Kevin De Bruyne is on the verge of completing a move to Napoli following confirmation of his departure from Manchester City at the end of the season.
The Belgian playmaker, who will become a free agent when his contract expires on 30 June, has reportedly chosen the reigning Serie A champions as the destination for the next chapter of his glittering career. A formal announcement is expected shortly after the conclusion of the Premier League campaign.
De Bruyne, 33, has been courted by a number of clubs across the globe, including Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire, but is understood to be finalising terms on a three-year deal in Naples. The contract will reportedly see him earn €6 million per season for the first two years, with a reduction to €5 million in the final year. In addition, he is set to receive a €10 million signing-on bonus as part of the free transfer.
Although the salary represents a significant reduction from his estimated £400,000-per-week wages at City, sources close to the player say De Bruyne is motivated by the challenge of proving he can still perform at the highest level in European football.
Lifestyle factors are also believed to have played a role in his decision, with De Bruyne having married his wife Michele in Sorrento—just outside Naples—several years ago.
Despite expressing earlier this month that leaving Manchester was “not entirely” his choice, the midfielder has since embraced the opportunity to start anew. He received an emotional send-off from supporters following his final appearance at the Etihad Stadium in City’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth.
His final outing for the club is set to come on Sunday, when City visit Fulham in their last match of the season. A point would secure Champions League qualification for next year—something De Bruyne has publicly described as a key target before his departure.
Napoli, who sealed their second Serie A title in three years on Saturday night, are preparing for another Champions League campaign and see De Bruyne’s experience as a valuable asset to bolster their ambitions on the European stage.
After nearly a decade of extraordinary success in Manchester, which included five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and a Champions League triumph, De Bruyne is now ready to embrace a new challenge on the Italian coast.