A pass master has appeared in Napoli.

Italy's Serie A Napoli announced on the 13th (Korea time) through official social media that "Kevin De Bruyne has been signed on a free agent (FA) deal from Manchester City." It stated, "He will leave Manchester City and play in a Napoli uniform for two years," officially announcing the signing.

According to the following day’s report from Italy's 'Corriere della Sera', "De Bruyne underwent a medical test for the transfer. Today is De Bruyne's day. Napoli welcomes a champion, one of the very important signings in the club's history." It added, "He arrived at Fiumicino Airport in Rome in the morning. After that, he moved to Villa Stuart for the medical test."

According to the report, De Bruyne will receive a total of €26 million (approximately 40.7 billion won) over three seasons, with a two-year contract including an option for a one-year extension. The De Bruyne family has already completed preparations to live in Napoli.

'Corriere della Sera' noted, "De Bruyne's wife, Michele Lacroix, has already secured a house in Posillipo. The couple plans to move there with their three children. The two married in 2017 in Sorrento, Italy," adding, "The transfer market in Napoli does not stop. The next target is AC Milan midfielder Yunus Musah."

As De Bruyne arrived on a private jet, Napoli fans literally erupted in excitement. 'Corriere dello Sport' reported, "As De Bruyne left the airport, he was surrounded by a crowd," noting that numerous fans had gathered. Police even had to be dispatched.

The media explained, "Police were dispatched to calm the excitement of the many Napoli fans waiting for De Bruyne at Villa Stuart. Hundreds of fans were waiting for De Bruyne's arrival," stating, "De Bruyne was moved by the warm welcome."

It appears to be a good choice for De Bruyne, who prioritizes family life. The media added, "De Bruyne and his wife know the city of Napoli well. Moreover, he is set to meet friends like Dries Mertens and Romelu Lukaku, who are both teammates on the Belgium national team. There are also various people behind the scenes."

De Bruyne is one of the legends who will remain in Premier League history beyond Manchester City. Since joining Manchester City in 2015, he has won the Premier League six times, the UEFA Champions League (UCL) once, the FA Cup twice, and the English Football League Cup (EFL Cup) five times. His overall record is 422 matches, 108 goals, and 177 assists.

However, the decade-long partnership between De Bruyne and Manchester City will also come to an end this summer. He played his farewell match for Manchester City on the 26th of last month against Fulham. De Bruyne was substituted in the 40th minute of the second half to say goodbye to the fans. He has stated that he will not participate in the club world cup scheduled for June, making this match his last.

The sudden parting was Manchester City's decision. De Bruyne confessed, "I did not receive any offers all year, and Manchester City made the decision. I was clearly a bit surprised, but I have to accept it. Honestly, I still think I can play at the highest level like now."

De Bruyne's next destination has attracted the attention of many fans. It is reported that Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States, the Saudi Arabian Pro League, as well as Europe’s big leagues have expressed interest in him. De Bruyne has also kept the possibility of staying in the Premier League open, stating that he would discuss it with his family, but ultimately, he donned the Napoli uniform.

It is Napoli and manager Antonio Conte, who will challenge for a second consecutive title in Serie A with De Bruyne. Napoli climbed to the top of Italy under new manager Conte in the 2024-2025 season. Although they finished 10th last season, they showcased a significantly improved performance and reclaimed the Scudetto after two years since the 2022-2023 season, where Kim Min-jae excelled.

[Photo] Calcio Napoli 24, Backpost UK, Sky Sports, Manchester City, 365 Scores social media.

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