Kevin De Bruyne, one of the most decorated midfielders of the past decade, may already be on his way out of Napoli. Intermediaries representing the 35-year-old are actively offering him to clubs in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, barely a year after he arrived in Italy on a free transfer from Manchester City.
A free transfer that cost more than expected
De Bruyne joined Napoli on July 1, 2025, after his long and storied tenure at Manchester City came to an end. The deal looked like a coup on paper: a world-class midfielder arriving for zero transfer fee, signing a contract through June 2027 with an option for an additional year.
De Bruyne’s body simply would not cooperate. Injuries kept him sidelined for the vast majority of the season, and he didn’t return to action until March 2026, when he came on as a substitute.
His current market value sits at roughly €8 million. For context, at his peak with Manchester City, De Bruyne was valued well north of €100 million.
