Manchester City To Honor De Bruyne With Statue Following Farewell Match

Manchester City have confirmed that they will honor Kevin De Bruyne with a statue outside the Etihad Stadium. This announcement follows his final home game against Bournemouth on Tuesday.

FAREWELL TO A LEGEND

De Bruyne‘s successful time with Manchester City is ending after ten years of great service to the club. The 33-year-old Belgian midfielder played his last game at the Etihad Stadium in a 3-1 win over Bournemouth. This win helped City get closer to securing a place in the Champions League. Despite missing a clear chance to score, hitting the crossbar, the match ended with an emotional ceremony honoring his achievements.

After the game, City announced their plan to create a statue of De Bruyne outside the stadium. This will place him alongside former teammates Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany, and David Silva, who also have statues. During his ten-year stay, the Belgian maestro has played over 400 matches for City and helped them win 19 major trophies.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

De Bruyne is leaving after a difficult season for Manchester City. For the first time since 2016-17, they will finish a season without a major trophy. The team recently lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final, ending their hopes of winning any silverware this year. Although disappointed, City are close to securing a place in the Champions League. They just need a draw against Fulham on the final day to confirm their spot in the Premier League‘s top five. During his decade in Manchester, De Bruyne became one of the Premier League’s top midfielders. He won the Premier League Player of the Season award two times (2019/20 and 2021/22) and the Playmaker award for most assists three times (2017/18, 2019/20, and 2022/23). He also shares the record for most assists in a single season (20) with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.

WHAT DE BRUYNE SAID

De Bruyne shared his pride and gratitude after being honored with a statue. “This means I will always be a part of this club,” he said during the farewell ceremony. “Whenever I return with family and friends, I will be able to see myself. I will always be here.” The midfielder also expressed confidence that City will overcome their challenges this season. “It’s been a tough year for us, but I think the team deserves all the support from you guys,” he said. “I know they’re trying really hard, and this team will be back next year competing for all the titles. They deserve this support.”

WHAT’S NEXT FOR CITY

Without one of their greatest players, Manchester City face an important final day match against Fulham. A draw would guarantee their spot in next season’s Champions League. The club must strengthen their squad in the summer transfer window to fill the creative void left by De Bruyne’s departure. They need to pose a stronger challenge for trophies next season. City currently sit in fifth place in the Premier League table. They are nine points behind champions Arsenal and five points ahead of sixth-placed Tottenham. Manager Pep Guardiola is determined to end this season positively before planning a squad rebuild for the 2025/26 campaign. He hopes to help the team return to the top of English and European football.