MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) — Kevin De Bruyne was hailed by Pep Guardiola as one of the Premier League’s all-time greats after the Belgian confirmed on Friday he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season.

De Bruyne, 33, has won 14 major trophies since joining City from Wolfsburg in 2015, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023.

“Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here – and you deserve to hear it from me first,” De Bruyne said in a post 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.”

De Bruyne has been instrumental in City’s rise to become the dominant force in English football.

He was twice crowned players’ player of the year in 2019/2020 and 2020/2021.

The Belgium captain sits second in the Premier League’s all-time standings for assists on 118 and has scored 106 goals in 413 appearances for City.

– ‘Outstanding’ –
“He’s one of the greatest we’ve ever seen,” said City manager Guardiola.

“His assists, his goals, his vision in the final third, it’s so difficult to replace. What he’s done here for the past decade has been outstanding.”

De Bruyne’s contract is due to expire at the end of June but it remains unclear whether he will continue to see out his days as a City player at the Club World Cup, which runs from June 14 until July 13.

“Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter,” De Bruyne added. “Let’s enjoy these last moments together!”

De Bruyne has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League or Major League Soccer in the United States.

The City captain’s influence has diminished in recent seasons due to injury problems.

He missed five months last term due to a hamstring tear.

This season he has made just 21 starts in City’s 47 matches in all competitions despite the struggles of Guardiola’s side to match the standards they have set over the past decade.

City sit fifth in the Premier League, 22 points behind leaders Liverpool, and were comfortably beaten 6-3 on aggregate by Real Madrid in the Champions League play-off round.

After breaking through at Genk in his homeland, De Bruyne’s first experience of the Premier League did not go well as he was discarded by Chelsea after just nine appearances for the Blues.

A move to Wolfsburg kickstarted his career as he was crowned German player of the season in 2014/15 as his side finished second to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

City’s £55 million ($72 million) move to bring him to Manchester was questioned at the time given De Bruyne’s struggles at Chelsea.

But he quickly proved his critics wrong and became an integral part of the side that under Guardiola enjoyed one of the most dominant stretches of success English football has ever seen.

City became the first English top-flight team to register 100 points in winning Guardiola’s first title in 2017/18.

A first ever domestic treble of Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup followed in 2018/19.

City then matched Manchester United’s feat as the only English side to win the treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in 2022/23.

They also became the first club to win four consecutive English top-flight titles last season.

“We’ve won a lot of trophies and he’s been involved in every single one,” added Guardiola.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim paid tribute to De Bruyne’s career in England ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

“He was one of the best midfielders in the Premier League,” said Amorim. “The time passes for everyone, so it’s a natural thing. He improved the league, he was on the ‘wrong’ side of Manchester, so I wish him good luck.”