This Star Premier League Midfielder Could Potentially Join Lionel Messi and Inter Miami Soon!

Premier League Midfield Maestro Tipped for MLS Move Alongside Messi. Will the Move Come Through?

The MLS could soon welcome another European superstar. And it’s none other than Manchester City’s midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne. After confirming his departure from the Premier League club at the end of the season, the Belgian has been heavily linked with a move to Inter Miami.

In Florida, he could join forces with Lionel Messi in one of the most high-profile MLS team-ups yet. The 33-year-old midfielder’s contract also expires at the end of the season. Hence, he will become a free agent. Upon taking the decision, the Belgian star took to social media, writing:

“These will be my final months as a Manchester City player. This city. This club. These people … gave me everything. I had no choice but to give everything back! And guess what — we won everything.”

Dear Manchester. 💙 pic.twitter.com/2EdhVYOLti
— Kevin De Bruyne (@KevinDeBruyne) April 4, 2025

He has 19 major trophies and 187 goal contributions in 10 seasons with the Citizens. With that, De Bruyne leaves behind one of the Premier League’s most decorated careers. His brilliance even led City boss Pep Guardiola to say, “I will bet a lot of money that [a statue] is going to happen. Come on, he deserves to be in this level.”

Inter Miami Hold the Key

According to a source that spoke to ESPN, Inter Miami holds De Bruyne’s MLS discovery rights. This mechanism gives the Herons the first opportunity to negotiate with him if he chooses to play in the league. Hence, it puts them in pole position to secure his signature.

Also Read: List of the Fastest Relegations in Premier League History – Southampton Suffers A Record Exit

De Bruyne was previously linked to another MLS side, San Diego FC. However, De Bruyne’s wages were reportedly out of reach for them. That opens the door for Inter Miami, who have already assembled a star-studded squad so far.

This includes Messi and former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. Notedly, Signing De Bruyne won’t be straightforward for Miami. They already have three designated player (DP) slots filled.

If they want to bring De Bruyne in, a possible route could be registering him as a Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) player. This is similar to how Zlatan Ibrahimović joined LA Galaxy in 2018 — before he upgraded his contract in 2026.

Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Kylian Mbappé: Comparing Their Debut Season at Real Madrid

Why MLS, Why Now?

In a way, the move makes sense for both sides. For De Bruyne, MLS offers a less physically demanding schedule which has been a regular case in Europe for the past several seasons. Lighter schedule would mean potential longevity.

Additionally, it would also give him the chance to link up with Messi. It would be a technically fluid setup under current coach Javier Mascherano. For MLS, his arrival would be another massive boost in global visibility.

Should this transfer materialize, it would mark another new milestone in the league’s growing reputation. However, De Bruyne still has some good years of European level of football left in him. With several speculations about his future, he could choose another destination if the opportunity arises.

Inter Miami

Kevin De Bruyne

Lionel Messi

Man City

Manchester City

MLS

Premier League

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.