*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:09, 15 March 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:27, 23 March 2025 (UTC)
De Bruyne began his professional senior career atGenk, where he was a regular player when they won the2010–11 Belgian Pro League. In 2012, he joined English clubChelsea, where he was used sparingly and then loaned toWerder Bremen. He signed withWolfsburg for £18 million in 2014, establishing himself as one of the best players in theBundesliga and was integral in the club's2014–15 DFB-Pokal win. In the summer of 2015, De Bruyne joined Manchester City for a then-club record £54 million. He has since won theUEFA Champions League, sixPremier League titles, fiveLeague Cups and twoFA Cups with the club. In2017–18, he had a significant role in City becoming the only Premier League team toattain 100 points in a single league season. In2019–20, De Bruyne equalled the record for most assists in a Premier League season and was namedPlayer of the Season, the award he won for the second time in2021–22. He was again heavily involved in2022–23, as Manchester City sealed thecontinental treble in their most successful season to date.
De Bruyne began his career with hometown club KVV Drongen in 1997. Two years later, he joinedGent and moved toGenk in 2005. De Bruyne continued his development in their youth set-up and was rewarded for his progress by being promoted to the first team squad in 2008. From an Interview with his youth club, it was revealed that De Bruyne was aLiverpool fan and admirer ofMichael Owen.[12]
De Bruyne made his first team debut forGenk in a 3–0 defeat atCharleroi on 9 May 2009.[13] Having established himself in the teamthe following season,[14] on 7 February 2010, De Bruyne scored his first goal for the club, which secured all three points for Genk in a 1–0 win againstStandard Liège.[15] He scored five goals and made 16 assists in 32 league matches during the 2010–11 season as Genk were crownedBelgian champions for the third time.[16] On 29 October 2011, De Bruyne scored his first hat-trick for Genk againstClub Brugge, which ended in a 5–4 win for Genk.[17] On 28 January 2012, De Bruyne scored a brace againstOH Leuven in a 5–0 win. On 18 February 2012, De Bruyne scored his first goal back at Genk following his agreed transfer toChelsea and also assisted the other goal in a 1–2 away win againstMons. De Bruyne ended the season by wrapping up the scoring in a 3–1 victory overGent. He finished the league campaign with eight goals from 28 appearances.
Chelsea
De Bruyne warming up with Chelsea in 2013
On 31 January 2012, on the winter transfer deadline day,Premier League club Chelsea and Genk announced the permanent signing of De Bruyne, with the fee rumoured to be in the region of £7 million.[18] He signed a five-and-a-half-year contract atStamford Bridge, but would stay at Genk for the remainder of the 2011–12 season. De Bruyne told the club website, "To come to a team like Chelsea is a dream but now I have to work hard to achieve the level that's necessary."[19][20] On 18 July 2012, De Bruyne made his debut for Chelsea in a friendly match againstMajor League Soccer (MLS) sideSeattle Sounders FC in a 4–2 win. De Bruyne also played the first half againstLigue 1 giantsParis Saint-Germain atYankee Stadium, New York City.
Werder Bremen (loan)
De Bruyne during his spell with Werder Bremen in 2012
On 31 July 2012, Chelsea announced that De Bruyne was to joinWerder Bremen in theBundesliga on a season-long loan deal.[21] He scored his first goal for Bremen in a 3–2 defeat toHannover 96 on 15 September, netting from 11 yards out after being played in byEljero Elia.[22][23] He continued his good form, scoring in Bremen's next game, a 2–2 draw withVfB Stuttgart, on 23 September.[24][25] De Bruyne got back on the score sheet on 18 November, scoring the winning goal — despite his team being down to 10 men — as Bremen came from a goal down to defeatFortuna Düsseldorf 2–1.[26][27]
De Bruyne scored his first goal in over two months on 4 May 2013, since netting a consolation goal inBayern Munich's 6–1 hammering of Bremen, putting his side up 2–0 at home toTSG 1899 Hoffenheim before a late brace fromSven Schipplock meant that the game finished 2–2.[28][29] He followed this up with a goal in Bremen's next match, securing a place in the Bundesliga for the next season with a 1–1 draw againstEintracht Frankfurt on 11 May.[30][31]
Return to Chelsea
After a successful loan spell in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen, De Bruyne was linked with a move to stay in Germany with eitherBorussia Dortmund orBayer Leverkusen. Incoming managerJosé Mourinho, however, assured De Bruyne he was a part of Chelsea's plan for the future, and the player officially returned to Chelsea on 1 July 2013.[32]
De Bruyne injured a knee while scoring his first goal for Chelsea, in a pre-season friendly game against a Malaysia XI,[33] but was fit to make his competitive debut on the opening day of the2013–14 Premier League season againstHull City, and made an assist for the first goal in a 2–0 win.[34]
Wolfsburg
2013–14 season
On 18 January 2014,Wolfsburg signed De Bruyne for a fee of £18 million (€22 million).[35] On 25 January 2014, he made his debut for Wolfsburg in a 3–1 home loss againstHannover 96.[36] On 12 April 2014, De Bruyne assisted 2 goals in their 4–1 home win against1. FC Nürnberg.[37] After a week he scored his first goal for Wolfsburg in 3–1 away win againstHamburger SV.[38] He also scored in the last two matches of theBundesliga helping his team to win againstVfB Stuttgart andBorussia Mönchengladbach.
2014–15 season
De Bruyne playing for Wolfsburg againstMainz in 2014
De Bruyne scored his first goal of the2014–15 season on 2 October 2014, volleying in a clearance from outside the box to salvage a 1–1 draw againstLille in theEuropa League.[39] In the third group match away toKrasnodar on 23 October, De Bruyne scored twice as Wolfsburg secured their first win in the competition with a 4–2 victory.[40] On 30 January 2015, he scored another brace in a 4–1 home win against Bayern Munich, their first Bundesliga defeat since April 2014.[41] On 1 March 2015, De Bruyne assisted three goals in a 5–3 win over his former club Werder Bremen.[42]
On 12 March 2015, De Bruyne scored two goals in a 3–1 first leg Europa League round of 16 victory overInternazionale.[43] On 15 March 2015, he scored one goal and assisted another two in 3–0 victory overSC Freiburg.[44]
De Bruyne began the season by winning the2015 DFL-Supercup againstBayern Munich, providing the cross forNicklas Bendtner's 89th-minute equaliser for a 1–1 draw and then scoring in the subsequentpenalty shootout.[48] On 8 August 2015, he continued his good form by scoring his first goal of the season, and providing two assists in a 4–1 win atStuttgarter Kickers in the first round of theDFB-Pokal.[49]
In August, in the midst of transfer speculation, De Bruyne said that he would not force Wolfsburg to sell him, but also said that he could not ignore interest fromManchester City, saying: "If an offer does come, I will hear about it and how much it is, but I have not yet heard anything... I would not go to England just to prove that I can play there. I do not have to go to England... If I go there it's because for me and for my family it is a good choice. That's the key for me."[50]
On 10 August, it was reported that Manchester City had made a second bid for De Bruyne worth £47 million. Wolfsburg sporting director,Klaus Allofs, said the club would fight to keep him, saying "I think some other clubs have definitely turned Kevin's head... Some huge figures are doing the rounds and I can understand why Kevin is leaving everything open."[51] On 27 August, it was reported that City had made a further bid for De Bruyne worth £58 million. Klaus Allofs said that City had made an "astonishing" wage offer to De Bruyne.[52]
On 30 August 2015, Manchester City announced the arrival of De Bruyne on a six-year contract, for a reported club-record fee of £55 million (€75 million), making him the second most expensive transfer in British football history afterÁngel Di María's move toManchester United in 2014.[53][54] He made his debut for the team in the Premier League on 12 September againstCrystal Palace, replacing the injuredSergio Agüero in the 25th minute.[55] On 19 September, he scored his first goal for the club againstWest Ham United in first half stoppage time in an eventual 2–1 loss.[56] He went on to score in a 4–1League Cup win againstSunderland, on 22 September[57] and a 4–1 loss toTottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on 26 September.[58] On 3 October, he scored in the team's 6–1 win againstNewcastle United.[59]
On 2 October, De Bruyne was announced as one of the players on the longlist for the prestigiousFIFA Ballon d'Or award, alongside teammates Agüero andYaya Touré.[60] Just 18 days later, on 20 October he was revealed byFIFA as one of the players on the 23-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or.[61] On 21 October, De Bruyne scored an injury-time winner againstSevilla in theUEFA Champions League, to take City within one point of group leadersJuventus, with three games remaining.[62] On 1 December, he scored a brace in a 4–1 win overHull City to send Manchester City through to the semi-finals of the Football League Cup.[63]
On 27 January 2016, De Bruyne scored a goal in a League Cup semi-final 3–1 victory overEverton, but sustained an injury to his right knee that would keep him out of the team for two months.[64] On 2 April, De Bruyne made his return from injury in a 4–0 win againstBournemouth atDean Court, scoring the team's second goal in the twelfth minute.[65] Four days later, he scored the opening goal in a 2–2 draw withParis Saint-Germain in theUEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg at theParc des Princes.[66] On 12 April, De Bruyne scored the winning goal against Paris Saint-Germain, advancing Manchester City to the Champions League semi-finals, for the first time in the club's history, on an aggregate score of 3–2. Writing inThe Independent, Mark Ogden said, "It was a stunning goal from the Belgian, who took a touch to control the ball before curling it beyondKevin Trapp from the edge of the penalty area."[67] De Bruyne's next goal came on 8 May 2016 in a 2–2 draw withArsenal, although the result left City's Champions League qualification hopes out of their own hands.[68]
2016–17 season
"I think he is a special, outstanding player. He makes everything. Without the ball he is the first fighter, and with the ball he is clear – he sees absolutely everything."
—Pep Guardiola on 17 September 2016 describing De Bruyne after his brilliant performances for City[69]
On 10 September 2016, De Bruyne scored and assisted in the firstManchester derby of theseason which City won 2–1 and was awarded theMan of the Match.[70] On 17 September 2016, De Bruyne was awarded theMan of the Match, in a 4–0 win over Bournemouth. De Bruyne scored the first, assisted the fourth, and provided key passes on both the second and third goals.[71] After the international break, Manchester City drew their next game, against Everton, played on 15 October 2016 with the scoreline finishing at 1–1. Agüero and De Bruyne both missed their penalties whileNolito came off the bench to equalise for City.[72]
On 1 November 2016, De Bruyne scored from afree kick in the team's 3–1 win overFC Barcelona.[73] On 21 January 2017, De Bruyne was involved in both of City's goals, as he netted once himself and also assistedLeroy Sané's, in a 2–2 home draw withTottenham Hotspur; he was subsequently named man of the match.[74] On 19 March 2017, De Bruyne displayed an excellent performance in a 1–1 draw againstLiverpool at theEtihad Stadium, where he set up a goal for Agüero.[75]
2017–18 season
De Bruyne during a pre-season training session in 2017
De Bruyne set up both Agüero's andGabriel Jesus' goals, on 9 September 2017, in a 5–0 home victory overLiverpool.[76] On 16 September, De Bruyne assisted Agüero for his first goal in an eventual 6–0 win overWatford.[77] On 26 September, De Bruyne scored his first goal of the2017–18 season in a 2–0 win overShakhtar Donetsk.[78] On 30 September 2017, he scored his first goal of the2017–18 Premier League season, as City beat his former clubChelsea with a 1–0 scoreline atStamford Bridge.[79] On 14 October, De Bruyne provided two assists in a 7–2 win overStoke City.[80] On 5 November, De Bruyne scored in a 3–1 win overArsenal.[81] On 18 November, he scored in a 2–0 away win overLeicester City.[82] On 29 November, he scored City's opener and assistedRaheem Sterling's last-minute winner in a 2–1 win overSouthampton.[83]
On 13 December, De Bruyne scored in a 4–0 away win overSwansea City, which extended their record run of consecutive top-flight wins to 15 games.[84][85] On 16 December, he scored in a 4–1 win overTottenham Hotspur, withPep Guardiola saying that De Bruyne is "helping the club become a better institution".[86][87] On 27 December, De Bruyne provided an assist for Sterling's goal in a 1–0 win overNewcastle United.[88] On 9 January, De Bruyne scored in a 2–1 win over Bristol City in thefirst leg of the semi-finals of theEFL Cup.[89] On 20 January, he provided an assist for Agüero's first goal of the game (who scored ahat-trick in the game), in a 3–1 win over Newcastle United.[90][91]
On 22 January 2018, De Bruyne signed a new long-term contract with the club, keeping him at the club until 2023.[92][93] On 23 January, he scored the winning goal in a 3–2 win over Bristol City in theEFL Cup semi-final second leg, which helped City advance to thefinal, having won the tie by an aggregate scoreline of 5–3.[93] On 31 January, he scored and assisted in a 3–0 win overWest Bromwich Albion, and was votedBBCMan of the Match.[93][94] On 10 February, he provided three assists, two for Agüero and one for Raheem Sterling, in a 5–1 win overLeicester City, taking his assists tally to 14.[95][96] On 25 February, he started in the2018 EFL Cup Final againstArsenal, and played the whole 90 minutes, with Manchester City winning 3–0 to obtain their first piece of silverware of the2017–18 season, and their first trophy overall under Pep Guardiola.[97]
On 31 March 2018, he provided an assist for Gabriel Jesus in a 3–1 win overEverton, ensuring that City would require only one more win to secure thePremier League title.[98][99] On 22 April, he scored in a 5–0 win over Swansea City.[100] On 13 May, on the final day of the season, De Bruyne assisted Gabriel Jesus' winning goal in a 1–0 win overSouthampton, which took champions City's total points tally to 100. De Bruyne was also voted asBBCMan of the Match.[101][102] For his 16 assists registered across the league season, De Bruyne won the inauguralPremier League Playmaker of the Season award.[103] He was also selected in thePFA Team of the Year, and was also voted asManchester City Player of the Season.[104][105][106]
2018–19 season
On 15 August 2018, De Bruyne suffered a knee injury during a training session, with several news websites reporting that he could potentially not play for up to three months.[107] Two days later, Manchester City confirmed that he had suffered a lesion of thelateral collateral ligament in his right knee, with no surgery required, and that he was expected to not play for three months.[108][109][110] Soon after De Bruyne returned to action in October 2018, he once again suffered a knee ligament injury in the fourth round of theEFL Cup againstFulham. The injury was expected to keep him out for 5–6 weeks[111] but he resumed full training much earlier than expected after only 3 weeks out.[112] He came on as substitute in theFA Cup final againstWatford, scoring the third goal and assisting two more, as City won the first-ever domestic treble in English men's football.[113][114] His performances meant he was namedMan of the Match.[114]
2019–20 season
On 30 November 2019, De Bruyne scored a half-volley in a 2–2 draw against Newcastle in the league, that strike was later voted asPremier League Goal of the Month for November.[115][116] On 15 December 2019, he scored a brace in a 3–0Premier League win over Arsenal at the Emirates.[117]
De Bruyne scored his 50th City goal in all competitions on 26 February 2020 in their 2–1 victory, coming from behind, overReal Madrid in their Champions LeagueRound of 16 clash.[118]
In the final Premier League match of the season, City beatNorwich City 5–0 at home. De Bruyne scored two goals and registered his 20th league assist, which equalledThierry Henry's record for the most assists in a season, and also won his secondPlaymaker of the Season award.[119][120] In addition he became the first player in history to reach 20 assists in a single season in two ofEurope's top five leagues.[121] His long range curler in that game also won himPremier League Goal of the Month for the second time in the season.[122]
At the end of the season he was awarded thePremier League Player of the Season after scoring 13 goals, providing 20 assists and creating 104 chances from open play, the most for a player in any of Europe's top five leagues since 2006.[123][124]
On 21 September 2020, De Bruyne scored and assisted in a 3–1 away win overWolverhampton Wanderers in City's first game of the season.[126] With the crucial visit of the Premier League champions, Liverpool, De Bruyne assisted Gabriel Jesus' equalizer before winning a penalty, which he subsequently fired wide. The game ended in a 1–1 draw.[127] On 7 April, De Bruyne signed a four-year contract,[128] after negotiating it with help of statistical data to make case for a 30% pay increase.[129]
On 25 April 2021, De Bruyne's free-kick was headed into the goal byAymeric Laporte, allowing City to win 1–0 against Tottenham Hotspur in theEFL Cup Final atWembley Stadium.[130] On 28 April, he scored a goal in a 2–1 away win over Paris Saint-Germain in theChampions League semi-finals.[131] On 29 May, De Bruyne had a head injury after colliding withAntonio Rüdiger in the second half of theChampions League Final, to be substituted by Gabriel Jesus; however, his team lost 1–0 against his former club Chelsea.[132] Medical scans after the game revealed De Bruyne to have sufferedacute nose bone andleft orbital fractures, placing doubt on his participation in the rescheduledUEFA Euro 2020 tournament.[133]
At the end of the season, Kevin was awarded with the PFA Player's Player Of The Year award.[134]
2021–22 season
On 26 April 2022, De Bruyne scored the fastestChampions League semi-final goal after 93 seconds in a 4–3 win over Real Madrid in the first leg.[135] On 11 May, he scored four goals inside 24 minutes in City's 5–1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, his first hat-trick with the club and the third-quickest in Premier League history.[136][137]Sky Sports commentatorAndy Hinchcliffe described the feat as "Twenty-three minutes of footballing genius" and Jeremy Wilson, writing inThe Daily Telegraph, said "De Bruyne's 'wrong-footed' hat-trick was one of the best displays in Premier League history".[138]
De Bruyne was again bestowed with thePremier League Player of the Season award, becoming the fourth player to win the award more than once.[139][140] He also went on to win Manchester City's Player of the Year award for the fourth time. As a result, he tiedRichard Dunne for the most player of the year awards at the club.[141] In addition, he ended the season as the club's top scorer in the Premier League with 15 goals, which was also his personal best record.[142]
2022–23 season
On 26 April 2023, De Bruyne scored a brace and provided an assist in a 4–1 win over Arsenal, which reduced their rival's lead at the league table to two points, with his team had two games in hand.[143] On 9 May, he scored the equalizer for his club in a 1–1 away draw against Real Madrid in theChampions League semi-finals first leg,[144] in which he managed to score in the same round for the third consecutive year.[145]
De Bruyne started the 2023–24 season, on 6 August, coming on as a substitute in the2023 FA Community Shield against Arsenal, missing a penalty as the Gunners won theshoot-out 4–1.[149] On 11 August, he suffered a reoccurrence of a hamstring injury in the opening league game of the season againstBurnley, it was later confirmed he would be out for four to five months.[150] He made his return from injury on 7 January 2024, providing an assist in a 5–0 win overHuddersfield Town in theFA Cup third round.[151] On 13 January, he came off the bench, scoring his first goal of the season and assisting another in a 3–2 comeback away victory over Newcastle United.[152]
On 6 April, De Bruyne scored his 100th goal for Manchester City in a 4–2 win at Crystal Palace.[153] On April 17, he scored a goal in a 1–1 draw against Real Madrid in theChampions League quarter-final second leg, leveling the aggregate score at 4–4; however, his club lost 4–3 in the penalty shootout.[154] On 19 May, he achieved his 6thPremier League title with the club on the final matchday of the season.[155]
Before making his full debut for Belgium's senior side, De Bruyne was eligible to play forBurundi, his mother's birthplace.[157]
De Bruyne became a regular member of Belgium's team during the2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, where he scored four goals as the Red Devils qualified for their first major tournament in 12 years.[158]
On 10 October 2014, De Bruyne scored twice in a 6–0 rout ofAndorra inUEFA Euro 2016 qualifying, equaling the team's record victory in a European qualifier set in 1986.[164][165] On 3 September 2015, De Bruyne scored in a 3–1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.[166] On 10 October 2015, De Bruyne scored in a 4–1 victory againstAndorra, which secured Belgium's place at theUEFA Euro 2016 finals.[167][168] Three days later, he scored in a 3–1 win overIsrael, securing Belgiumtop-spot in the group.[169]On 31 May 2016, De Bruyne was selected for Belgium's final 23-mansquad forUEFA Euro 2016.[170][unreliable source?] On 18 June 2016, De Bruyne was praised for his performance in Belgium's 3–0 win over theRepublic of Ireland.[171] On 26 June 2016, De Bruyne was votedBBCMan of the Match for his performance in a 4–0 win overHungary in theround of 16, where he provided two assists.[172]
De Bruyne was selected for Belgium's final 23-mansquad for the2018 FIFA World Cup.[173] On 18 June, in the opening game against debutantsPanama, De Bruyne provided an assist forRomelu Lukaku in an eventual 3–0 victory.[174][175] On 6 July, he scored the second goal of the match in a 2–1quarter-final victory overBrazil and was named the man of the match.[176] In the semi-finals, Belgium were defeated 1–0 by eventual championsFrance.[177] On 14 July, Belgium defeatedEngland 2–0 in thethird-place play-off.[178]
On 17 June 2021, De Bruyne scored his first and the winning goal in Belgium's second match ofUEFA Euro 2020, a 2–1 victory overDenmark,[179] having earlier in the game assisted the team's first goal.[180] During the round of 16 clash withPortugal, De Bruyne suffered an ankle injury from a tackle from behind, by Portugal'sJoao Palhinha. On 2 July Belgium managerRoberto Martinez said that De Bruyne could recover in time for the quarter-final match, later that day, despite not training all week[181][182] and he was later confirmed in the starting line-up.[183]
On 21 March 2023, De Bruyne was announced as Belgium's newcaptain, following the international retirement ofEden Hazard.[187] A week later, he led Belgium to beatGermany in a friendly match for the first time since 1954, by scoring a goal and providing two assists in a 3–2 away win.[188] On 28 May 2024, he was selected in the Belgian squad for theUEFA Euro 2024.[189] A few days later, on 5 June, he earned his 100th international cap, in which he also scored a goal, in a 2–0 friendly victory overMontenegro prior to the tournament.[190]
Player profile
Style of play
A versatile and highly talented player in the media, he plays mainly as anattacking or acentral midfielder but can also operate in several other positions and has been used as awinger orsecond striker. He has even been deployed in adeeper creative midfield position and on occasion, abox-to-box role or as afalse 9. He is often described by pundits as one of the best and most complete modern dayadvanced playmakers due to his technique, skill, athleticism, work-rate off the ball, vision,crossing accuracy, wide range of passing, and powerful long-range shooting ability with either foot.[191][192][193][194][195][196][197][198]
Although he is not blessed with significant physical strength, pace, or ability in the air,[199] he is a quick and elegant player on the ball with gooddribbling skills, while his positional sense, tactical intelligence, movement, direct style of play and ability to run at defences when in possession also enable him to take advantage of spaces in the opposition's defence and subsequently create chances and goalscoring opportunities for himself or his team-mates, making him a dangerous offensive threat on counter-attacks.[199][200][201][202] In addition to his creative abilities,[199] he is also capable of scoring goals by making late runs off the ball from behind into the penalty area[203] and is an accurateset-piece taker.[199][204]
Reception
De Bruyne is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world,[205][206][207][208][209] and he has often been described as a "complete" footballer.[210][211][212]
De Bruyne was ranked the fourth-best footballer in the world byThe Guardian in 2017[213] and the twelfth-best in 2019.[214] In 2020, his Manchester City managerPep Guardiola described him as the best midfielder in the world.[215] As City chasedThe Treble in the 2022–23 season with De Bruyne playing a leading role,Jamie Redknapp said that De Bruyne was the best Premier League midfielder he had seen, ranking him above the likes ofSteven Gerrard andFrank Lampard.[216]
Personal life
De Bruyne in 2012
Family and relationships
De Bruyne's mother is Belgian.[217] She was born inBurundi and has also lived in theIvory Coast.[218] She grew up in London, after herFlemish parents moved to England for work reasons. Only when she met Kevin's father, Herwig, did she return to Belgium.[217]
De Bruyne's parents settled in Drongen, a sub-municipality of the city ofGhent, in Flanders, theDutch-speaking part of Belgium.[219][220] Aside from Dutch, his mother tongue, De Bruyne also speaks English, French and German.[221][222]
As a child, De Bruyne and his parents regularly visited his grandparents in London. At the time of his move to Chelsea in 2012, De Bruyne stated: "We used to go every year at Christmas and during school holidays. It's my second home."[223]
De Bruyne has been in a relationship with Michèle Lacroix since 2014.[224] The couple married in June 2017[225] and have three children together.[226]
De Bruyne's autobiography, titledKeep It Simple, was published by Borgerhoff & Lamberigts in October 2014,[227] following an incident between De Bruyne and his compatriot, footballerThibaut Courtois, in which De Bruyne's then-girlfriend left him for Courtois. De Bruyne wrote in his autobiography, "Although I still cannot believe what Courtois has done, we continue to work together professionally."[228]
Philanthropy
De Bruyne was an ambassador for the 2014Special Olympics, which took place inAntwerp, and was involved in a controversial advertisement campaign via his personalInstagram account. Employing the slogan (in Dutch): "Would you still be my fan if I looked like this?", De Bruyne was depicted resembling a person withDown's syndrome.[229]
Since 2016 theKevin De Bruyne Cup, an international youth football tournament, has been organized in Drongen, Belgium.[230]
In 2019, De Bruyne andRomelu Lukaku handed out shoes to needy children in regional hospitals for a special campaign 'Kicks for Kids' organized byRoc Nation Sports.[232]
De Bruyne has also been involved in other charitable initiatives, including the "Common Goal" campaign, which encourages professional footballers to donate 1% of their wages to support various global social causes. In addition, he has donated money to supportcancer research and has been involved in charity matches to raise money for various causes.[233]
In 2023, De Bruyne and his wife were named as ‘godparents’ of theRonald McDonald Children’s Fund, which ensures that parents with hospitalized children will be able to stay nearby.[234]
Career statistics
Club
As of match played 15 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
While several sources indicate that De Bruyne recorded 21 assists during the season, this number has been disputed and in 2020, the official Bundesliga website credited him with 19 assists.[326]
^Booth, Mark (29 February 2016)."Talking Points: How City Won The Capital One Cup". Manchester City F.C. Archived fromthe original on 8 July 2018. Retrieved7 July 2018.Although he was unable to take any part in the final, Kevin De Bruyne deserved his first medal as a City player as much as anyone. Smith, Jonathan (26 February 2018)."Kevin De Bruyne: Man City's Carabao Cup final win can be a springboard". ESPN. Archived fromthe original on 8 July 2018. Retrieved8 July 2018.It was De Bruyne's second League Cup winners' medal at City, however he missed the 2016 final against Liverpool through injury.
^"The IFFHS Men World Team 2017".IFFHS. International Federation of Football History & Statistics. 12 December 2017. Archived fromthe original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved12 December 2017.
^"IFFHS MEN'S WORLD TEAM 2022".IFFHS. International Federation of Football History & Statistics. 11 January 2023.Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved11 January 2023.
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