After a decade of trophy-laden seasons at Manchester City, Kevin De Bruyne is embracing a fresh challenge with Serie A champions Napoli, joining on a free transfer after his City contract expired last month. The Belgian playmaker believes the transition will be smoother thanks to the warm welcome from international teammate Romelu Lukaku, whose presence in the dressing room offers both friendship and practical support.
De Bruyne said Lukaku’s reaction was immediate and enthusiastic when he shared news of the move. The pair have been close since their early teens, even sharing accommodation for a spell during their time at Chelsea’s academy pathway, and that long bond underpins the comfort De Bruyne already feels in southern Italy. Beyond camaraderie, Lukaku is helping his compatriot navigate language, lifestyle and the tactical demands of Antonio Conte, giving De Bruyne a quick cultural landing strip.
Leaving the Premier League did not come lightly. De Bruyne spent ten seasons helping shape City’s modern era, setting creative standards that redefined the playmaker role and driving a remarkable haul of domestic trophies and European success. Those experiences, he believes, equip him to mentor younger teammates in Naples, where a technically gifted squad will aim to blend Serie A’s tactical structure with quicker vertical transitions. His passing range and set-piece delivery could dovetail naturally with Lukaku’s power and penalty-box movement.
At 34, De Bruyne weighed his options carefully before leaving England. He insisted his affection for City remains undimmed – “I’m a City player for life,” he said – yet the timing felt right to pursue a new competitive horizon. Napoli’s recent title proved the club can scale the summit; equally important was its appetite to keep evolving rather than settle.
He is excited to absorb a new footballing education, adapt to Serie A’s rhythms and contribute creativity, leadership and high-level experience to a squad intent on defending domestic honours while pushing deep in Europe. Napoli open the 2025-26 Serie A campaign at home to Sassuolo on August 13, a date already circled in De Bruyne’s mind and in front of home fans. Between now and then, preseason sessions under Conte will be crucial as De Bruyne learns the patterns, builds chemistry with Lukaku and settles his family in Naples. Supporters hope his vision and delivery ignite an attack capable of defending the Scudetto once again.
