Kevin De Bruyne facts for kids

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Kevin De Bruyne

De Bruyne with Belgium in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Kevin De Bruyne
Date of birth	(1991-06-28) 28 June 1991 (age 34)
Place of birth	Drongen, Belgium
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Napoli
Number	11
Youth career
1997–1999	KVV Drongen
1999–2005	Gent
2005–2008	Genk
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2012	Genk	97	(16)
2012–2014	Chelsea	3	(0)
2012–2013	→ Werder Bremen (loan)	33	(10)
2014–2015	VfL Wolfsburg	52	(13)
2015–2025	Manchester City	285	(72)
2025–	Napoli	0	(0)
International career‡
2008–2009	Belgium U18	7	(1)
2009	Belgium U19	10	(1)
2011	Belgium U21	2	(0)
2010–	Belgium	111	(31)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Belgium FIFA World Cup Third 2018
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:22, 25 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 07:00, 11 June 2025 (UTC)

Kevin De Bruyne (born 28 June 1991) is a Belgian professional footballer. He plays as a midfielder for the Italian club Napoli and is the captain of the Belgium national team. Many people think De Bruyne is one of the best players in the world. He is known as a "complete" footballer because he is good at so many things.

Kevin started his youth career at Gent. He then began his professional career at Genk, where he helped them win the 2010–11 Belgian Pro League. In 2012, he joined the English club Chelsea. After playing a few games, he was loaned to Werder Bremen.

In 2014, he moved to VfL Wolfsburg for about £18 million. There, he became one of the best players in the Bundesliga and helped the club win the 2014–15 DFB-Pokal. In 2015, De Bruyne joined Manchester City for a club-record fee of £54 million. He played 422 games for Manchester City. During his time there, he won the UEFA Champions League once, six Premier League titles, five League Cups, and two FA Cups.

In the 2017–18 Premier League season, he was a key player when City became the first Premier League team to get 100 points in a season. In 2019–20, De Bruyne set a record for the most assists in a Premier League season. He was named Premier League Player of the Season twice, in 2020 and 2022. In 2022–23, he helped Manchester City win the continental treble, which means they won three major trophies in one season.

De Bruyne first played for the Belgian national team in 2010. He has played over 110 games and scored more than 30 goals for Belgium. He was part of the Belgian teams that reached the quarter-finals in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016. Belgium finished third in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and De Bruyne was named in the Fan Dream Team. He also played in UEFA Euro 2020, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Euro 2024.

He has won many individual awards, including the Premier League Playmaker of the Season three times and the PFA Players' Player of the Year twice. He was also named Manchester City's Player of the Year four times.

Club Career Highlights

Starting at Genk

Kevin De Bruyne started playing football at his hometown club, KVV Drongen, in 1997. Two years later, he joined KAA Gent. His coaches there, Jan Troos and Charly Musonda, helped him improve his technique, like passing, shooting, and dribbling. Kevin later said their coaching was very important for his development.

In 2005, he moved to Genk and continued to grow as a player in their youth system. By 2008, he was promoted to the first team. Kevin made his first team debut for Genk on 9 May 2009. On 7 February 2010, he scored his first goal for the club, helping Genk win 1–0. In the 2010–11 season, he scored five goals and made 16 assists in 32 league games, as Genk won the Belgian championship.

On 29 October 2011, De Bruyne scored his first hat-trick for Genk in a thrilling 5–4 win against Club Brugge. He finished that league season with eight goals in 28 games.

Moving to Chelsea

De Bruyne warming up with Chelsea in 2013

On 31 January 2012, Premier League club Chelsea signed De Bruyne from Genk for about £7 million. He signed a five-and-a-half-year contract but stayed at Genk for the rest of the 2011–12 season. Kevin said joining Chelsea was a "dream." He made his Chelsea debut in a friendly match on 18 July 2012.

Loan to Werder Bremen

De Bruyne playing for Werder Bremen in 2012

On 31 July 2012, Chelsea loaned De Bruyne to Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga for a season. He scored his first goal for Bremen on 15 September in a 3–2 loss. He continued to score in their next game and later scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory against Fortuna Düsseldorf. He helped Bremen secure their place in the Bundesliga for the next season.

Back at Chelsea

After a good loan spell, De Bruyne returned to Chelsea on 1 July 2013. The manager, José Mourinho, told him he was part of Chelsea's future plans. De Bruyne made his official debut for Chelsea on the first day of the 2013–14 Premier League season, assisting a goal in a 2–0 win.

Playing for Wolfsburg

2013–14 Season

On 18 January 2014, Wolfsburg signed De Bruyne for £18 million. He made his debut for Wolfsburg on 25 January 2014. On 12 April 2014, he assisted two goals in a 4–1 win. A week later, he scored his first goal for Wolfsburg. He also scored in the last two games of the 2013–14 Bundesliga season.

2014–15 Season

De Bruyne playing for Wolfsburg against Mainz in 2014

De Bruyne scored his first goal of the 2014–15 season on 2 October 2014 in the Europa League. On 23 October, he scored twice against Krasnodar. On 30 January 2015, he scored two goals in a 4–1 home win against Bayern Munich. On 1 March 2015, he assisted three goals in a 5–3 win against his old club, Werder Bremen.

On 12 March 2015, De Bruyne scored two goals in a Europa League match against Internazionale. He finished the league season with 10 goals and a new Bundesliga record of 21 assists. Wolfsburg finished second in the league and qualified for the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League. On 30 May 2015, he scored in the 2015 DFB-Pokal Final as Wolfsburg won 3–1.

De Bruyne had an amazing season with 16 goals and 27 assists in all competitions. He was named the 2015 Germany Footballer of the Year.

2015–16 Season Start

De Bruyne started the season by winning the 2015 DFL-Supercup against Bayern Munich. He provided an assist and scored in the penalty shootout. He also scored his first goal of the season on 8 August 2015 in a cup match.

In August, there was a lot of talk about him moving to Manchester City. De Bruyne said he wouldn't force Wolfsburg to sell him, but he couldn't ignore interest from Manchester City.

Joining Manchester City

2015–16 Season

De Bruyne playing for Manchester City in January 2016

On 30 August 2015, Manchester City announced that De Bruyne had joined them on a six-year contract for a club-record fee of £55 million. He made his debut for City on 12 September. On 19 September, he scored his first goal for the club. He continued to score in League Cup and Premier League games.

On 2 October, De Bruyne was on the list for the important FIFA Ballon d'Or award. On 21 October, he scored a winning goal in injury time against Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League. On 1 December, he scored two goals in a 4–1 win over Hull City in the League Cup.

On 27 January 2016, De Bruyne scored in a League Cup semi-final win but got a knee injury that kept him out for two months. He returned on 2 April, scoring in a 4–0 win. Four days later, he scored against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final. On 12 April, De Bruyne scored the winning goal against Paris Saint-Germain, helping Manchester City reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time.

2016–17 Season

On 10 September 2016, De Bruyne scored and assisted in the first Manchester derby of the season, which City won 2–1. He was named Man of the Match. On 17 September, he was again Man of the Match in a 4–0 win, scoring one goal and assisting another. On 1 November 2016, De Bruyne scored from a free kick in a 3–1 win over FC Barcelona. He continued to perform well, setting up goals and being named Man of the Match in various games.

2017–18 Season

De Bruyne during a pre-season training session in 2017

De Bruyne started the 2017–18 season strong, assisting goals in big wins. On 26 September, he scored his first goal of the season. On 30 September, he scored against his former club, Chelsea, in a 1–0 win. He scored in many more games and provided many assists throughout the season.

De Bruyne during the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, on 10 December 2017, which City won 2–1

On 22 January 2018, De Bruyne signed a new contract with Manchester City until 2023. On 25 February, he played in the 2018 EFL Cup Final against Arsenal, which Manchester City won 3–0, earning their first trophy under manager Pep Guardiola. On 31 March, he assisted a goal that brought City closer to winning the Premier League title. On 13 May, on the final day of the season, De Bruyne assisted the winning goal that helped City reach 100 points in the league. He won the first-ever Premier League Playmaker of the Season award for his 16 assists. He was also named Manchester City Player of the Season.

2018–19 Season

On 15 August 2018, De Bruyne got a knee injury that kept him out for about three months. After returning in October, he got another knee injury but recovered faster than expected. He came on as a substitute in the 2019 FA Cup Final against Watford, scoring one goal and assisting two others. City won the game and completed the first-ever domestic treble in English men's football. He was named Man of the Match.

2019–20 Season

On 30 November 2019, De Bruyne scored a great goal against Newcastle, which was later voted Premier League Goal of the Month. On 15 December, he scored two goals in a 3–0 win over Arsenal. On 26 February 2020, he scored his 50th goal for City in a 2–1 win against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

In the last Premier League game of the season, De Bruyne scored two goals and made his 20th league assist. This equaled Thierry Henry's record for the most assists in a season. He also won his second Premier League Playmaker of the Season award. He became the first player to reach 20 assists in a single season in two of Europe's top leagues. He was awarded the Premier League Player of the Season for his amazing performance. He also won the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, becoming the first Manchester City player to do so.

2020–21 Season

De Bruyne on the ball for Manchester City in the Champions League against RB Leipzig in 2021

On 21 September 2020, De Bruyne scored and assisted in City's first game of the season. On 7 April 2021, De Bruyne signed a new four-year contract. On 25 April, City won the 2021 EFL Cup Final against Tottenham Hotspur, with De Bruyne's free-kick leading to the winning goal. On 28 April, he scored in a 2–1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals. On 29 May, he suffered a head injury in the 2021 UEFA Champions League Final against Chelsea, which City lost 1–0. Medical scans showed he had a broken nose bone and a fracture near his eye. Despite this, he was still named the PFA Player's Player of the Year.

2021–22 Season

On 26 April 2022, De Bruyne scored the fastest Champions League semi-final goal, after just 93 seconds, in a 4–3 win over Real Madrid. On 11 May, he scored four goals in 24 minutes in a 5–1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers. This was his first hat-trick for the club and the third-fastest in Premier League history. He was again named the Premier League Player of the Season, becoming only the fourth player to win it more than once. He also won Manchester City's Player of the Year award for the fourth time and was the club's top scorer in the Premier League with 15 goals.

2022–23 Season

On 26 April 2023, De Bruyne scored two goals and assisted one in a 4–1 win over Arsenal, helping City close the gap in the league table. On 9 May, he scored an equalizer against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals. On 10 June, he played only 36 minutes in his second Champions League final due to a hamstring injury. However, Manchester City won 1–0 against Inter Milan, completing their continental treble.

2023–24 Season

De Bruyne started the 2023–24 season in the 2023 FA Community Shield but suffered a hamstring injury on 11 August, which kept him out for several months. He returned from injury on 7 January 2024, assisting a goal in an FA Cup win. On 13 January, he scored his first goal of the season and assisted another in a comeback win against Newcastle United.

On 6 April 2024, De Bruyne scored his 100th goal for Manchester City. On 17 April, he scored in a Champions League quarter-final draw against Real Madrid, but City lost in a penalty shootout. On 19 May, he won his 6th Premier League title with the club.

2024–25 Season

On 4 April 2025, De Bruyne announced he would leave Manchester City when his contract ended after the 2024–25 season. On 17 May, he played in his final FA Cup final with City, which they lost 1–0. Three days later, in his last home game, he was greatly honored by the club and fans.

Moving to Napoli

On 12 June 2025, the Italian club Napoli announced that they had signed De Bruyne on a free transfer.

International Career

De Bruyne (right) lining up for Belgium in 2013, alongside Vincent Kompany and Simon Mignolet

Kevin De Bruyne played for Belgium's national teams at under-18, under-19, and under-21 levels. He made his debut for the senior national team on 11 August 2010 in a friendly match against Finland. Before playing for Belgium, he could have played for Burundi, his mother's birthplace.

De Bruyne became a regular player for Belgium during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification games. He scored four goals, helping Belgium qualify for their first major tournament in 12 years.

First World Cup and Euro Appearances

De Bruyne playing for Belgium against Algeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup

On 13 May 2014, De Bruyne was chosen for Belgium's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In their first game against Algeria, he assisted a goal and was named Man of the Match. In the round of 16, De Bruyne scored Belgium's first goal in extra time as they beat the United States 2–1. Belgium was later knocked out by Argentina in the quarter-finals.

On 10 October 2014, De Bruyne scored two goals in a 6–0 win against Andorra in UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying. On 10 October 2015, he scored again against Andorra, which secured Belgium's spot in the UEFA Euro 2016 finals. Three days later, he scored in a 3–1 win over Israel, helping Belgium finish first in their group.

On 31 May 2016, De Bruyne was selected for Belgium's squad for UEFA Euro 2016. He played very well in Belgium's 3–0 win over the Republic of Ireland. On 26 June 2016, he was named Man of the Match in a 4–0 win over Hungary, where he provided two assists.

2018 World Cup Performance

De Bruyne celebrating Belgium's 2–1 win over Brazil at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

De Bruyne was part of Belgium's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. On 18 June, in the first game against Panama, he assisted a goal in a 3–0 victory. On 6 July, he scored the second goal in a 2–1 quarter-final win over Brazil and was named Man of the Match. Belgium lost 1–0 to France in the semi-finals. On 14 July, Belgium beat England 2–0 to finish in third place.

Euro 2020 and 2022 World Cup

De Bruyne playing for Belgium against Canada at the 2022 FIFA World Cup

On 17 June 2021, De Bruyne scored the winning goal in Belgium's 2–1 victory over Denmark at UEFA Euro 2020. During the round of 16 match against Portugal, De Bruyne suffered an ankle injury but managed to recover and start in the quarter-final. De Bruyne played in all three games at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but Belgium was eliminated in the group stage.

Becoming Captain

On 21 March 2023, De Bruyne was announced as Belgium's new captain. A week later, he led Belgium to beat Germany in a friendly match for the first time since 1954, scoring a goal and assisting two others in a 3–2 away win. On 28 May 2024, he was selected for the UEFA Euro 2024 squad. A few days later, on 5 June, he played his 100th international game and scored a goal in a 2–0 friendly win over Montenegro. On 9 June 2025, he scored his 31st international goal in a 4-3 win over Wales.

Player Profile

How He Plays

Kevin De Bruyne is a very talented and versatile player. He mostly plays as an attacking midfielder or a central midfielder. He can also play as a winger or a second striker. Sometimes, he even plays in a deeper creative role or as a false 9. Experts often call him one of the best and most complete modern advanced playmakers. This is because of his great technique, skill, athleticism, hard work without the ball, amazing vision, accurate crossing, wide range of passes, and powerful long-range shots with both feet.

Even though he isn't super strong or fast, he is quick and graceful with the ball. He has good dribbling skills. His ability to find space, smart tactical play, and direct style help him create chances for himself and his teammates, making him dangerous on counter-attacks. Besides creating goals, he can also score by running into the penalty area from behind. He is also very good at taking set-pieces, like free kicks and corners.

What People Say About Him

Many people believe De Bruyne is one of the best players in the world, often calling him a "complete" footballer.

In 2017, The Guardian ranked him the fourth-best footballer in the world. In 2020, his Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, said he was the best midfielder in the world. As City chased the Treble in the 2022–23 season, with De Bruyne playing a key role, former player Jamie Redknapp said De Bruyne was the best Premier League midfielder he had ever seen, even better than players like Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.

Personal Life

De Bruyne in 2012

Kevin De Bruyne's mother is Belgian. She was born in Burundi and also lived in the Ivory Coast. Her parents moved to England for work, so she grew up in London. She returned to Belgium when she met Kevin's father, Herwig.

De Bruyne's parents settled in Drongen, a town in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. Kevin speaks Dutch, English, French, and German. As a child, Kevin and his parents often visited his grandparents in London. He once said London was his "second home."

De Bruyne has been with Michèle Lacroix since 2014. They got married in June 2017 and have three children. De Bruyne's autobiography, called Keep It Simple, was published in October 2014.

Helping Others

De Bruyne has been involved in many charity projects. He was an ambassador for the 2014 Special Olympics in Antwerp. In 2016, the Kevin De Bruyne Cup, an international youth football tournament, started in Drongen, Belgium.

In 2018, UEFA chose De Bruyne as an ambassador. He gave 100,000 euros to the International Committee of the Red Cross. In 2019, De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku gave shoes to children in hospitals for a campaign called 'Kicks for Kids'.

De Bruyne also supports the "Common Goal" campaign, where footballers donate 1% of their wages to social causes. He has also given money to support cancer research and played in charity matches. In 2023, De Bruyne and his wife became 'godparents' for the Ronald McDonald Children's Fund, which helps parents stay close to their hospitalized children.

Career Statistics

Club Appearances and Goals

International Appearances and Goals

Belgium score listed first, score column indicates score after each De Bruyne goal

List of international goals scored by Kevin De Bruyne

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	12 October 2012	Stadium Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade, Serbia	6	Serbia	2–0	3–0	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	22 March 2013	Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia	10	Macedonia	1–0	2–0
3	7 June 2013	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	13	Serbia	1–0	2–1
4	15 October 2013		17	Wales	1–0	1–1
5	26 May 2014	Cristal Arena, Genk, Belgium	21	Luxembourg	5–1	5–1	Friendly
6	1 July 2014	Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil	25	United States	1–0	2–1	2014 FIFA World Cup
7	10 October 2014	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	28	Andorra	1–0	6–0	UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
8					2–0
9	3 September 2015		34	Bosnia and Herzegovina	2–1	3–1
10	10 October 2015	Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella, Andorra	36	Andorra	2–0	4–1
11	13 October 2015	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	37	Israel	2–0	3–1
12	13 November 2015		38	Italy	2–1	3–1	Friendly
13	28 May 2016	Stade de Genève, Lancy, Switzerland	39	Switzerland	2–1	2–1
14	27 March 2018	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	59	Saudi Arabia	4–0	4–0
15	6 July 2018	Kazan Arena, Kazan, Russia	66	Brazil	2–0	2–1	2018 FIFA World Cup
16	11 June 2019	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	70	Scotland	3–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
17	9 September 2019	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	72	Scotland	4–0	4–0
18	19 November 2019	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	74	Cyprus	2–1	6–1
19					3–1
20	18 November 2020	Den Dreef, Leuven, Belgium	78	Denmark	4–2	4–2	2020–21 UEFA Nations League A
21	24 March 2021		79	Wales	1–1	3–1	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
22	17 June 2021	Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark	81	Denmark	2–1	2–1	UEFA Euro 2020
23	16 November 2021	Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	88	Wales	1–0	1–1	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
24	8 June 2022	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	90	Poland	2–1	6–1	2022–23 UEFA Nations League A
25	22 September 2022		92	Wales	1–0	2–1
26	28 March 2023	RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany	99	Germany	3–1	3–2	Friendly
27	5 June 2024	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	100	Montenegro	1–0	2–0
28	22 June 2024	RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany	103	Romania	2–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2024
29	6 September 2024	Nagyerdei Stadion, Debrecen, Hungary	106	Israel	1–0	3–1	2024–25 UEFA Nations League A
30					3–1
31	9 June 2025	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	111	Wales	4–3	4–4	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours and Awards

Team Trophies

Genk

• Belgian Pro League: 2010–11
• Belgian Cup: 2008–09
• Belgian Super Cup: 2011

VfL Wolfsburg

• DFB-Pokal: 2014–15
• DFL-Supercup: 2015

Manchester City

• Premier League: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
• FA Cup: 2018–19, 2022–23
• Football League/EFL Cup: 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
• FA Community Shield: 2018, 2019, 2024
• UEFA Champions League: 2022–23
• UEFA Super Cup: 2023
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2023

Belgium National Team

• FIFA World Cup third place: 2018

Individual Awards

• Bundesliga Young Player of the Year: 2012–13
• Bundesliga Player of the Year: 2014–15
• Footballer of the Year (Germany): 2015
• Belgian Sportsman of the year: 2015
• Manchester City Player of the Season: 2015–16, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2021–22
• FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• IFFHS Men's World Team: 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2017, 2019, 2020
• PFA Premier League Team of the Year: 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
• Premier League Playmaker of the Season: 2017–18, 2019–20, 2022–23
• UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2021–22, 2022–23
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2018
• Premier League Goal of the Month: November 2019, July 2020
• Premier League Player of the Season: 2019–20, 2021–22
• PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2019–20, 2020–21
• UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Season: 2019–20
• IFFHS World's Best Playmaker: 2020, 2021, 2023