New Delhi, June 12 (NationPress) Kevin De Bruyne, regarded as one of the most legendary midfielders of his time, has made a striking transition to Italian champions Napoli, concluding his remarkable ten-year journey with Manchester City. The Belgian star joins Napoli on a free transfer, opting for this move over a tempting offer from MLS club Chicago Fire, as he seeks to continue his Champions League adventure at the highest level.

In a grand display of Neapolitan style, Napoli introduced their new star with an impressive computer-generated image of De Bruyne, seated on a throne dressed in royal blue and adorned with a crown — fittingly titled, “King Kev is here.”

The 33-year-old will be guided by Antonio Conte, the passionate coach and former boss of Chelsea and Spurs, who has recently taken the helm at Napoli. Together, they aim to build on Napoli’s thrilling Serie A championship from last season, where they narrowly defeated rivals in one of the most competitive finishes in recent history.

De Bruyne’s exit from Manchester City signifies the end of an era. After joining from Wolfsburg in 2015, the Belgian wizard became a central figure in Manchester City’s most triumphant decade, securing a total of 19 major titles.

Most notably, he played a key role in City’s historic Treble-winning season of 2022-23, a feat previously accomplished only once in English football by Manchester United in 1999.

During his final home game against Bournemouth, the Etihad Stadium resonated with emotion during his farewell ceremony. “It’s been incredible to have spent 10 years here with everything that has transpired,” De Bruyne expressed. “It’s been an amazing journey and a true honor.”

“It was fulfilling to work diligently to help create something that brought success to the club. I’m immensely proud to have contributed to that. Manchester has been my home and my family’s home for the past decade.”