“We have created a great future for you”

Kevin de Bruyne offered an emotional farewell to the Etihad stadium after making his appearance at home for Manchester City on Tuesday.

De Bruyne will leave the city at the end of the season, and his guard companions were kept after helping the City of a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth, who put them on the edge of the Champions League rating.

The Belgium International, which has won 14 important trophies in a ten-year decorated spell with City, performed a video with tributes from a series of former colleagues in the city and his wife and three children, who joined the pitch to say goodbye to Etihad’s fans.

Directing in the crowd, De Bruyne reflected on the legacy he leaves while explaining what the club and the city mean for him and his family.

“Manchester is at home, Manchester is where these children were born,” he said. “I came here with my wife, Michelle, to stay -for a long time, I did not expect to be here for ten years. To do what we have done as a club, supporters, teammates we have won everything. We did the city, the largest club and now they will take care of.

“ I wanted to play with creativity, I wanted to play with passion. I wanted to enjoy football and I hope everyone liked it. Everyone pushed me so hard in and out of the club to be the best version of myself and these guys, everyone who see on the screen and these guys in front of me have done better than before. It is an honor to play with these guys. I have made so many friends for life. We will return soon.

Tributes to King Kev 🩵 pic.twitter.com/J3GYDSLXIA

– Manchester City (@mancity) May 20 2025

“This team is trying to entertain people and win. This team works incredibly to everyone behind the stage and on the pitch. This team will win in the future, with or without me, and everyone in the city, the followers, will be behind the team as they have done with me for the last ten years. This team will be successful.

“You just want to do it and win it and, when you win, you want to win more. You want to push the city and we had five/six parades and this has been incredible to witness everything that happens in the city. All moments with these teammates have been too much to count. It was a pleasure.”

To the fans, who were serenades of Bruyne with the songs of his name throughout the night, De Bruyne added: “They have been so welcoming from the beginning. Having almost a complete stadium that supports my family and I say everything. Who can have 50.00 people who wait for goodbye? It is indescribable and thank you very much.”

At the beginning of the day, a Bruyne’s mosaic was presented at the city’s Football Academy, but it was revealed that a Bruyne statue will also be built as a tribute to the indelible brand he has left.

We will honor @KevindebuyneThe incredible decade of service to the club commissioning a special statue that celebrates the magnificent career of the Etihad midfielder 👑

– Manchester City (@mancity) May 20 2025

“It means that I will always be part of this club,” Bruyne said about this honor.

“I always represent a small piece and, as long as I return with these boys and with family and friends, I will be able to see myself standing around the stadium. I will always be here.

“I think the best way to describe my life with my wife and three children is that we have fit perfectly. We understand where the club has come and why the club means a lot of people for many people.

“Together we have created a great future for you, for the club to perform the way this club will perform. I know this has been a difficult year for us, but I think the team deserves all the support of you.

“I know they are pressing very strong and this team will return next year to promote all the titles, so they deserve this.

“I think after ten years it was time that someone let me talk a little and it’s time to say -me will be. I will go back, but let’s love you and see each other soon.”