Kevin De Bruyne (33) has joined Italy's Serie A Napoli. The next player the club might target is Lee Kang-in (24) from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
On the 12th (Korea time), Napoli officially announced the signing of De Bruyne through the club's official account.
Aurelio De Laurentiis, president of Napoli, said, "Welcome, De Bruyne." The club account also stated, "We are proud that De Bruyne has joined our team."
The exact terms of the contract are undisclosed, but local reports suggest that it includes a two-year deal with an option for a one-year extension. The transfer fee is said to be around 10 million euros (approximately 15.7 billion won).
De Bruyne left Germany's VfL Wolfsburg in 2015 to join the English Premier League's Manchester City. Over the next 10 seasons, he was responsible for midfield at Man City, establishing himself as one of the world's best midfielders.
De Bruyne lifted numerous trophies at Man City, including the Premier League six times, the UEFA Champions League once, the FA Cup twice, and the EFL Cup five times. He recorded 108 goals and 177 assists in a total of 422 matches.
He bid farewell to fans as he came on as a substitute in the 40th minute of the Fulham match on the 26th of last month. He expressed his intention not to participate in the Club World Cup, making the Fulham match a farewell game for Man City.
At that time, De Bruyne noted, "Man City made no offers, and the club made the decision." He added, "It was surprising, but I have to accept it. I still believe I can perform at the highest level."
Man City announced plans to erect a statue at the Etihad Stadium in honor of De Bruyne, who has dedicated 10 years to the club.
De Bruyne conveyed, "I will always be able to come back and see myself. I will always be here."
Currently, statues of Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Sergio Agüero, Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee, and Francis Lee stand at the Man City Stadium.
De Bruyne decided to part ways with Manchester City last April. Although there were rumors of a transfer to the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer (MLS), he rejected multiple offers from various teams. After much deliberation, he chose Napoli as his new destination.
Upon arriving in Rome, De Bruyne underwent a medical test at the designated hospital of Napoli. Hundreds of fans gathered to welcome him.
With De Bruyne joining, Napoli has added strength to its midfield. He is expected to provide stability to coach Conte's tactics.
Now Lee Kang-in could be the top priority target for Napoli.
It is reported that Napoli has targeted Lee Kang-in to strengthen their creative midfield.
Italian media "Spazio Napoli" exclusively reported on the 10th that "Napoli has reached a preliminary agreement with PSG regarding the signing of Lee Kang-in." Some outlets have reported that they have progressed beyond simple interest to the transfer agreement stage.
PSG initially sought a transfer fee of 40 million euros (approximately 62.5 billion won), but it is reported that they accepted Napoli's offer of between 30 million euros (approximately 46.8 billion won) and 35 million euros (approximately 54.6 billion won).
Lee Kang-in garnered attention as a global prospect as he made his La Liga debut with Valencia and Mallorca. In particular, he had a career-high season with 6 goals and 6 assists in 39 appearances for Mallorca during the 2022-2023 season.
Lee Kang-in, who transferred to PSG in the summer of 2023, contributed to the team while playing various roles, such as mezzala and false nine, alternating between the wings and the center. In this season, he recorded 6 goals and 6 assists in 45 official matches.
This season, Lee Kang-in achieved a treble, winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Champions League, but his position shrank significantly as he fell behind in the competition for a starting position during the second half. There is substantial opinion that Lee, who has "great potential," should transfer to a team where he can play a central role.
Lee Kang-in was reserved with his comments.
After the home game against Kuwait in the 10th round of Group B of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers held on the 10th at Seoul World Cup Stadium, he responded to questions regarding the transfer rumors, stating, "I don’t know how things will unfold from now on. Although I would like to give hints, the season isn’t over yet, and the transfer market hasn’t opened. I haven’t discussed anything with the club, and I’m also seeing the articles."
He then smiled and added, "I don't know where I'll be playing next season."
[Photo] De Bruyne, Lee Kang-in ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), X, Paris Saint-Germain social media account
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