Kevin De Bruyne, right, celebrates with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola after their FA Cup win over Bournemouth. AFP
Kevin De Bruyne, right, celebrates with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola after their FA Cup win over Bournemouth. AFP
Kevin De Bruyne, right, celebrates with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola after their FA Cup win over Bournemouth. AFP
Kevin De Bruyne, right, celebrates with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola after their FA Cup win over Bournemouth. AFP

Kevin de Bruyne announces he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season


Steve Luckings
  • English
  • Arabic

Manchester City captain Kevin de Bruyne will leave the club at the end of the season, bringing down the curtain on 10 trophy-laden years at the Etihad Stadium.

The Belgian playmaker confirmed in a social media post that he will end his long association with the club this summer when his contract expires.

In a letter to the club's fans, De Bruyne wrote: "Dear Manchester, Seeing this, you probably realise where this is heading. So I'll get straight to it and let you all know that these will be my final months as a Manchester City player.

"Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here – and you deserve to hear it from me first.

Football led me to all of you – and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This city. This club. These people... gave me everything. I had no choice but to give everything back! And guess what we won everything.

"Whether we like it or not, it's time to say goodbye. Suri, Rome, Mason, Michèle, and I are beyond grateful for what this place has meant to our family. 'Manchester' will forever be on our kids' passports – and more importantly, in each of our hearts. This will always be our home.

"We cannot thank the city, club, staff, teammates, friends, and family enough for this 10-year ride. Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter.

"Let's enjoy these last moments together! Much love, KDB."

The 33-year-old signed for City in 2015 in a £54 million move from German club Wolfsburg and has gone on to become one of the club's greatest and most decorated players, scoring more than 100 goals in 413 appearances. He is second only to Manchester United's Ryan Giggs on the all-time list of Premier League assist makers with 118.

During his 10 years at City, De Bruyne has helped the club win six Premier League titles – including the last four in a row, an English record – as well as five League Cups, two FA cups, the Fifa Club World Cup and the Uefa Champions League – the first in the club's history.

The former Chelsea midfielder is the only player in City's squad who predates manager Pep Guardiola's arrival at the club in 2016, a union that has made the club the most dominant force in English football over the past decade.

Speculation over De Bruyne’s future has grown throughout the season with reports linking him with a lucrative move to either Saudi Arabia or the United States.

His influence on the side has decreased as fitness issues have taken their toll over the past two campaigns.

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Rating: 4/5

Match info

What: Fifa Club World Cup play-off
Who: Al Ain v Team Wellington
Where: Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
When: Wednesday, kick off 7.30pm

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The biog

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Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine 

France is her favourite country to visit

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Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter

Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country

The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns

Her motto is to never stop working for the country

The five types of long-term residential visas

Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:

Investors:

A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.

Entrepreneurs:

A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.  

Specialists

Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.

Outstanding students:

A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university. 

Retirees:

Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.

MATCH INFO

Scotland 59 (Tries: Hastings (2), G Horne (3), Turner, Seymour, Barclay, Kinghorn, McInally; Cons: Hastings 8)

Russia 0

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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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HAJJAN
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Financial considerations before buying a property

Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.

“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says. 

Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.

Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier. 

Updated: April 04, 2025, 11:45 AM`