End of an era: Kevin De Bruyne says goodbye to Manchester City after 10 trophy-laden years

Dubai: Kevin De Bruyne stood still for a moment, soaking it all in. The Etihad Stadium rose as one, chanting his name, waving flags bearing his number, and offering the kind of ovation reserved for club legends. This wasn’t just a goodbye — it was a celebration of an era defined by the Belgian’s brilliance.

After 10 seasons, 19 major trophies and countless jaw-dropping moments, De Bruyne bade farewell to the home fans on Tuesday night following Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth. He didn’t score. He didn’t assist. But he didn’t have to. His legacy had already been carved into every corner of this stadium.

“It’s been an unbelievable ride, an absolute pleasure,” said the 33-year-old midfielder. “We had a lot of fun over the 10 years. I’m super proud.”

De Bruyne joined City from Wolfsburg in 2015. Back then, he was a highly rated attacking midfielder with promise. A decade later, he leaves as arguably the Premier League’s finest creator, with 108 goals and 177 assists in 420 appearances — and more importantly, the heartbeat of a dynasty.

Six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups, a Champions League, a Super Cup and a Club World Cup — it’s a trophy haul befitting a player who could pick a pass no one else could see, and often did.

“He changed the game here,” said a fan holding a homemade sign that read ‘Thank You, Kevin’. “There’s a before-and-after to City’s story, and De Bruyne is right at the centre of it.”

Tuesday’s match was a formality. With the Premier League title already clinched, the night was about saying goodbye. De Bruyne started and played 60 minutes, applauded every time he touched the ball, and left the field to a standing ovation as Guardiola hugged him tightly on the touchline.

There was another reason for celebration late on, as Ballon d’Or winner Rodri made his first appearance since September, returning from a serious knee injury. With the goal gaping from Omar Marmoush’s pass, the 33-year-old hit the crossbar — and gave himself “no excuses” for missing.

“It’s terrible. There’s no excuses!” he said, laughing. “My son is going to be very tough on me today.”

Manchester City have ensured De Bruyne’s influence will never be forgotten. A mosaic of his trademark celebration has been unveiled by a training pitch at the City Football Academy, created by local artist and lifelong City fan Mark Kennedy. The mosaic joins tributes to other club icons including Yaya Toure, Joe Hart, David Silva, Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan.

Even more fittingly, the road connecting the academy to the first-team centre has been renamed Kevin De Bruyne Crescent.

The club has also confirmed plans for a statue in his honour. De Bruyne will join an elite group of players immortalised in bronze, alongside Kompany, Silva and Aguero — whose 93:20 moment sealed City’s first Premier League title in 2012.

In 2023, the club’s history was further celebrated with a statue honouring the iconic trio of Mike Summerbee, Francis Lee and Colin Bell — recognising their combined 30 years of service from the 1960s onwards.

For Pep Guardiola, the occasion was about far more than trophies.

“Everybody saw how much the people from Manchester City are connected with him and his family and how much love [they have],” said the City boss. “Titles are nice and everything he has achieved, but when you leave after 10 years with this much respect and gratitude, there is nothing better than that.”

De Bruyne’s departure feels especially poignant because of how deeply he embedded himself into City’s identity. He wasn’t just the brain of Guardiola’s tactical machine — he was its pulse.

Whether it was the outrageous outside-of-the-foot cross in a Champions League semi-final, the laser-guided through-ball that split five defenders, or the countless goals rifled in from the edge of the box, De Bruyne combined vision with violence — a creative genius who made the extraordinary look routine.

De Bruyne still has one year left on his contract, but the farewell strongly hints at an impending move. Reports suggest interest from Saudi Arabia and MLS clubs, with Inter Miami and Al Ittihad among those monitoring the situation. If Tuesday was indeed his final game at the Etihad, it marks the end of a chapter City may never truly replicate.

“It was nice to have the send-off in this way,” De Bruyne said. “We’ve done a lot of work — not only me but also my family — to stay here and be the best I can be for this club.”

His wife and children joined him on the pitch after the match, a family moment under the lights, as supporters chanted his name one last time.

De Bruyne leaves a gap no single player can fill. Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez and others will carry the torch, but the blueprint he leaves behind — of excellence, consistency, humility — sets the standard for the next generation.

Ten years ago, he arrived with questions over his £55 million price tag. Today, he walks away a bargain at twice the cost — a player who defined City’s greatest era and left it richer in every way.

As he waved to the fans, clapping above his head, there was no sadness in the stadium. Just admiration. And maybe, a silent hope that this goodbye isn’t forever.

— With inputs from agencies