Manchester City bid an emotional farewell to one of its greatest ever players, Kevin De Bruyne on Tuesday night at the Etihad Stadium.
The 33-year-old midfield maestro played his final home game for the club in a 3-1 win over Bournemouth, marking the end of an era that brought historic success to the blue half of Manchester.
It was a moment filled with emotion, as fans, teammates, and even manager Pep Guardiola struggled to hold back tears during the send-off.
De Bruyne, who will leave City this summer after a decade of service, leaves behind a legacy that will be etched permanently in club history, not least because of the statue set to be erected in his honour outside the stadium.
In a touching post-match speech, he expressed heartfelt gratitude to the club and its supporters.
“I wanted to play with creativity, I wanted to play with passion. I wanted to enjoy football and I hope everyone enjoyed it,” he said, flanked by his family. “Everybody has pushed me so hard inside and outside the club to be the best version of myself and these guys in front of me have made me better than I was before. It’s an honour to play with these guys. I’ve made so many friends for life.”
The Belgian international started the match but missed a golden chance to score in the first half before being substituted following Mateo Kovacic’s red card.
It was a bittersweet ending to an illustrious City career, one that delivered 16 major trophies and countless unforgettable moments.
Despite the miss, nothing could dampen the occasion. The stadium was awash with tributes, scarves and shirts bearing his name, murals in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, and even a newly named road and mosaic in his honour at the club’s academy.
Guardiola, clearly emotional, praised his departing star, “Everybody saw how much the people from Manchester City are connected with him and his family and how much love [they have]. Titles are nice and everything that he has achieved, but when you leave after 10 years with this much respect and gratitude, there is nothing else better than that. I am part of that, the club will take the decision, but it is a sad day and he will be missed, there is no doubt about that.”
He continued, “When Kevin arrived here, I am pretty sure he was not a Man City fan, I don’t know who he supports, but I am pretty sure he is a fan now and will be forever. That is because of the connection between all the people and him.”
The emotional weight of the night could be felt as chants of “ohh Kevin De Bruyne” echoed to the beat of Seven Nation Army.
A sentimental montage played post-match, featuring tributes from former teammates like Aguero, Kompany, Sterling, and Zabaleta.
A guard of honour welcomed him back to the pitch with his wife and children, prompting a heartfelt ovation from the crowd. Supporters sang, “We want you to stay, Kevin De Bruyne, we want you to stay,” though the decision appears final.
De Bruyne, visibly moved, couldn’t hide his feelings after missing his chance to score one final goal.
“It’s terrible,” he admitted. “There’s no excuses. My son is going to be very tough on me today.”
Micah Richards reflected on the midfielder’s character, “He lets his football do the talking. He’s such a shy character but I have been meeting him over the years and seeing how humble he is and how great a player he is, it is just great to see. He has deserved his send-off. Everyone who’s played with him speaks highly of him, and to do what he’s done in the Premier League is just sensational.”
Guardiola, who once called De Bruyne the “second best” passer he’s coached after Lionel Messi, oversaw a player whose numbers speak volumes.
In 283 Premier League appearances, De Bruyne contributed 72 goals and 119 assists, ranking second all-time behind Ryan Giggs in assists. His 843 chances created are unmatched in the division since his 2015 debut, with Bruno Fernandes far behind in second.
His final home league appearance marked his 142nd at the Etihad, second only to David Silva. When asked what City meant to him, he called it “home”, “family”, and said his children “were Manc”.
Former Liverpool midfielder, Jamie Redknapp encapsulated the uniqueness of De Bruyne’s talent, “Who is the next De Bruyne in world football? They don’t exist. He is like a unicorn, so don’t even bother looking for another KDB. There is absolutely no doubt he is a genius. For him it is so easy.”
Despite his deep connection to the club, De Bruyne revealed he was surprised not to be offered a new contract. He’s now linked with a possible move to MLS side Chicago Fire, while Manchester City are reportedly reassessing their transfer targets, including pulling out of a move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz due to cost.
Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White is being monitored as an alternative.
With De Bruyne’s departure imminent, attention turns to those who might attempt to fill the void. Phil Foden and Jack Grealish are among the options internally, though questions linger about consistency.
“He [De Bruyne] is irreplaceable,” Richards said. “I have been disappointed with Phil Foden, but he needs to step up now. There is a vacancy available and this is Foden’s time.”
In closing, De Bruyne summed up the collective journey, “To do what we’ve done as a club, supporters, teammates we’ve won everything. We made the city, the club bigger and now they’re going to take over.”
Kevin De Bruyne may have played his final game at the Etihad, but his imprint on Manchester City and English football, is eternal.
