Kevin De Bruyne has confirmed he will part ways with Manchester City at the end of the season, bringing nearly a decade-long spell to a close. Here’s a look at the remarkable contributions of one of the Premier League’s finest.
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From Stamford Bridge to City Legend: De Bruyne’s Era of Brilliance Nears Its End
Defending is never easy, but since Kevin De Bruyne arrived at Manchester City in 2015, it’s felt nearly impossible for Premier League defenders. Facing the Belgian maestro has often left opponents unsure of where to position themselves, as De Bruyne possesses an uncanny ability to slice through defences with pinpoint passes from any range or angle.
So, it’s no surprise there was a collective sigh of relief across the league when De Bruyne revealed on Friday that this season would be his last with City.
“Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter,” he shared on social media. “Football led me to all of you – and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This city. This club. These people gave me everything. I had no choice but to give everything back. And guess what – we won everything.”
At 33, and with just 1,102 minutes played in the Premier League this season due to injuries—his lowest since the 2018–19 campaign—it’s not a shocking decision. Still, De Bruyne’s legacy is firmly etched into Premier League history.
Like his former Chelsea teammate Mohamed Salah, De Bruyne bounced back from a quiet spell at Stamford Bridge. After a successful stint at Wolfsburg, where he led all of Europe’s top five leagues with 20 assists in 2014–15 and topped the Bundesliga in open-play chances created (74), City invested £55 million to bring him back to England—a move widely regarded as one of the club’s greatest.
The Architect of an Era: De Bruyne’s Numbers Tell the Story of Greatness
Over the course of 10 glittering seasons at the Etihad Stadium, Kevin De Bruyne has assembled a trophy cabinet that includes six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five EFL Cups, and a UEFA Champions League — with the possibility of adding another FA Cup before his farewell.
Integral to Pep Guardiola’s sky-blue juggernaut, De Bruyne has been the creative heartbeat of a side that has dominated English football for much of the past decade. He has not only provided a wealth of assists but also chipped in with key goals of his own, all while setting new standards for playmakers across the league.
De Bruyne currently sits second on the all-time Premier League assists list with 118 — 117 of which were for Manchester City, and one for Chelsea — trailing only Ryan Giggs (162). However, the Belgian boasts the best minutes-per-assist ratio in the competition’s history among players with at least 50 appearances, setting one up every 177 minutes. That’s well ahead of Dennis Bergkamp (236) and even Giggs, who averaged one every 287 minutes.
He also shares the record for the most assists in a single Premier League season, with 20 in 2019–20 — a feat only matched by Thierry Henry in 2002–03.
Since his arrival at City in August 2015, De Bruyne has outshone every Premier League peer: recording at least 32 more assists than any other player (117), creating 294 more chances (827), and delivering 214 more open-play chances (593) than anyone else in that span. Across Europe’s top five leagues in that time, no player has created more chances or provided more assists.
Only Cesc Fàbregas (846) has created more chances in the Premier League since Opta began tracking the stat in 2003–04 — but with De Bruyne sitting on 830 (three for Chelsea), he could still surpass that milestone before signing off.
Additionally, De Bruyne ranks fourth for goal involvements in the Premier League since joining City, with 187 — trailing only Mohamed Salah (267), Harry Kane (231), and Son Heung-min (198). What makes this even more remarkable is that he’s only hit double figures for goals in two of his 10 league seasons.
A Nightmare for Defenders, A Dream for City: De Bruyne’s Devastating Legacy in Numbers
Kevin De Bruyne hasn’t let any Premier League side off lightly during his time at Manchester City, having either scored or assisted against 30 of the 33 teams he’s faced. No club has suffered more at his hands than Southampton — the Belgian has racked up 14 goal involvements (4 goals, 10 assists) in just 13 appearances against them. Arsenal (8 goals, 4 assists) and Crystal Palace (4 goals, 8 assists) have each seen him tally 12 contributions, while he’s produced 11 goal involvements versus both Newcastle United (3G, 8A) and Liverpool (4G, 7A).
As of his farewell announcement on Friday, De Bruyne has featured in 413 games for City across all competitions, winning 281, drawing 67, and losing only 65. He has scored 106 goals and delivered 169 assists — with a remarkable 41 of his goals coming from outside the penalty area and seven from direct free-kicks. On top of that, he’s created an astounding 1,140 chances and attempted 941 shots at goal.
Breaking it down by competition:
- Premier League: 277 appearances, 70 goals, 117 assists
- Champions League: 72 appearances, 16 goals, 25 assists
- FA Cup: 32 games, 10 goals, 18 assists
- EFL Cup: 26 matches, 10 goals, 7 assists
- Community Shield & UCL qualifier: 1 assist each
De Bruyne’s 277 Premier League appearances are the second-most for City, only behind David Silva’s 309. Yet, he far surpasses Silva in league assists for the club, with 117 to the Spaniard’s 93.
Only Sergio Agüero (184), Raheem Sterling (91), and Erling Haaland (84) have scored more Premier League goals for Manchester City than De Bruyne’s 70. While his recent partnership with Haaland has lit up the league, it’s Agüero who’s been on the receiving end of the most assists from De Bruyne — 19 in total. Haaland has already benefited from 13 and could add more if he returns from injury before the Belgian’s departure.
With eight league games still to play and an FA Cup semi-final — plus potentially a final — on the horizon, City fans will be hoping to see more magic from their midfield maestro before he bids farewell. A perfect moment for that could be Sunday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
Reflecting on the announcement, Pep Guardiola summed it up poignantly: “A sad day but a happy day for the fact that I had the pleasure personally to live this time with him.”
The Premier League will undoubtedly miss Kevin De Bruyne — even if the league’s defenders won’t.
FAQs
How many trophies has Kevin De Bruyne won with Manchester City?
Kevin De Bruyne has won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five EFL Cups, and one UEFA Champions League with Manchester City.
What is Kevin De Bruyne’s Premier League assist record?
De Bruyne has 118 Premier League assists — 117 for Manchester City and one for Chelsea — placing him second all-time behind Ryan Giggs.
Which team has Kevin De Bruyne tormented the most in the Premier League?
Southampton has suffered the most, with De Bruyne contributing 14 goal involvements (4 goals, 10 assists) in 13 appearances.
How many appearances and goals does Kevin De Bruyne have for Manchester City?
He has made 413 appearances, scored 106 goals, and provided 169 assists for Manchester City across all competitions.
Who has received the most assists from Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City?
Sergio Agüero has received the most assists from De Bruyne, with 19 goal setups.
