Kevin De Bruyne Joins Napoli: Salary, Contract, and All You Need to Know

Belgian Legend Signs a Contract With Serie a Champions After Leaving Man City.

Kevin De Bruyne has officially joined Serie A champions Napoli as a free agent. He bid adieu to Manchester City last month, ending a glittering 10-year spell. The 33-year-old Belgian midfield maestro quickly garnered interest from several clubs in England, Germany, and the MLS.

Reportedly, the MLS club Chicago Fire were pushing strongly for a move, but De Bruyne opted for Naples. He is now set to begin a new chapter in his career at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona under head coach Antonio Conte. De Bruyne leaves Manchester City as a club legend.

KING KEV IS HERE 👑

💙 #ProudToBeNapoli | #ForzaNapoliSempre | #WelcomeKevin pic.twitter.com/7lh3BDGues
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) June 12, 2025

He has lifted six Premier League titles, a Champions League, and numerous domestic trophies with the club. Spending over a decade at the Etihad, he scored 108 goals and provided 177 assists. This includes a record-equalling 20 assists in the Premier League 2019-20 season. In tribute, City confirmed plans to erect a statue in his honour.

Contract and Salary at Napoli

De Bruyne has signed a short-term contract with Napoli which says that Napoli will have the player for two guaranteed years with an option to extend for a third. His reported salary is set to be €5 million per season. The midfielder is expected to undergo his medical later this week.

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He will then join their pre-season tour under Conte’s guidance. Napoli’s president Aurelio De Laurentiis welcomed the Belgian with a statement. Napoli’s announcement of their social media was regal-themed, captioned: “King Kev is here.”

Why Kevin de Bruyne Chose Napoli

Napoli’s project under De Laurentiis and the arrival of Conte played a big part in De Bruyne’s decision. Reportedly, the positive experiences of some of his Belgian compatriots Dries Mertens and Romelu Lukaku in Naple salso swayed his decision. Serie A’s official website report on the move complimented the Belgian saying:

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“For many… De Bruyne is the embodiment of a total footballer.” Conte also has an admiration for the midfielder’s tactical versatility and intelligence. De Bruyne will reunite with Lukaku at Napoli. Thus, creating a formidable Belgian axis in midfield. With Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sold to PSG in January, and additions like Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay, Napoli are reconstructing their squad with renewed ambition.

Having recently secured their fourth Serie A title with a 2-0 win over Cagliari, Napoli are aiming to remain at the top coming season. De Bruyne is expected to be the centerpiece of Conte’s tactical setup. A playmaker with leadership qualities and experience, Naples may be in for something special with De Bruyne in their midst.

Aurelio De Laurentiis

Kevin De Bruyne

Manchester City

Napoli

Romelu Lukaku

Serie A

Moumita Dutta

soccer

Football writer at The Playoffs. I’ve been obsessed with the beautiful game since I was a kid.. Eventually, I realized I could combine my passion for writing with my love for football, and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of the job is everything—when you’re doing what you love, even a late-night deadline feels like extra time in a thrilling cup final. Lastly, Lionel Messi is the GOAT.