De Bruyne signs with Serie A champion Napoli after 10 seasons at Man City
NAPLES, Italy (AP) — Two-time Premier League player of the season Kevin De Bruyne signed as a free agent with Serie A champion Napoli on Thursday.
'KING KEV IS HERE,' Napoli declared in a series of posts on X.
The 33-year-old De Bruyne's contract at Manchester City expired. Napoli did not announce the length of his new contract.
Around 150 fans welcomed De Bruyne on his arrival at a clinic in Rome for his medical. They chanted his name before also singing about Napoli being champion after the player had gone into the facility.
At Napoli, De Bruyne will reunite with Belgium teammate Romelu Lukaku. And follow in the footsteps of former Napoli great Dries Mertens, an ex-Belgium international.
In Napoli's midfield, De Bruyne can team with Serie A player of the year Scott McTominay, who made a highly successful move from Manchester United.
Known as one of soccer's most complete midfielders, De Bruyne was named the best player in the Premier League for the 2019-2020 and 2021-22 seasons.
In 10 seasons at City, he helped the English club to six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a Champions League trophy.
The addition of De Bruyne may have been one of the reasons that convinced Napoli coach Antonio Conte to stay on for another season after considering rejoining Juventus.
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Kasperi Kapanen (42) defends during the first period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise, Fla., Thursday, June 12, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk (19) scores against Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, left, as Oilers'. Kasperi Kapanen (42) defends during the first period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise, Fla., Thursday, June 12, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Corey Perry (90) is stopped by Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the third period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise, Fla., Thursday, June 12, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, bottom right, makes a save against Edmonton Oilers' Trent Frederic (21) during the first overtime period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise, Fla., Thursday, June 12, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk, center, celebrates after his goal against the Edmonton Oilers with Sam Reinhart, left, and Aleksander Barkov, right, during the first period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise, Fla., Thursday, June 12, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk (19) scores against Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, left, as Oilers'. Kasperi Kapanen (42) defends during the first period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise, Fla., Thursday, June 12, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Panthers led 3-0 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers. But, they lost. Matthew Tkachuk and the stars of the defending champion Panthers smothered the Oilers in the first period. Advertisement Edmonton's veterans responded fiercely, scoring four straight goals to take a 4-3 lead. 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It has been that kind of series so far — an evenly matched, back and forth heavyweight fight between two extremely experienced, resilient teams. The final has been so tight that three of four games have gone to overtime, marking just the eighth Stanley Cup Final – and fourth in the expansion era (since 1967-68) — to have three or more games require overtime. Advertisement Despite the loss, Florida coach Paul Maurice said he could appreciate the competitiveness. 'I think we focus on sometimes the mistakes that get made by good players at times,' Maurice said, 'and you miss some of the heart and soul and the intensity of it. It's so fast. Every board battle, everything can turn into something. ... Everything is dangerous all the time. So there's a mental intensity, a mental toughness I think both teams show that the game's not going to be over until it is.' Sam Reinhart nearly saved the collapse Thursday when he scored a tying goal in the waning seconds of regulation. 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The Oilers also seemed to get a huge boost of momentum after coach Kris Knoblauch decided to pull starting goaltender Stuart Skinner after the Calvin Pickard allowed three goals in the first period. Advertisement The good news for the Panthers is they've responded well this postseason following letdowns. Florida seems to relish the moments when the pressure is the highest. That's what the experience of playing in their third straight Stanley Cup Final has taught the Panthers. And its a quality that will be needed if they're going to regroup from Game 4's disappointing finish. 'The more times you go through it, the better,' Reinhart said. 'It's never going to be perfect. This time of year, we've been here before. We've been through it. So ... it's about recovering for Game 5.' ___ AP NHL playoffs: and
