The football world was rocked this week by a seismic announcement from Manchester City’s midfield maestro, Kevin De Bruyne. After a decade of dazzling passes, trophy-laden seasons, and unforgettable moments at the Etihad Stadium, the 33-year-old Belgian star revealed that the summer of 2025 will mark the end of his storied tenure with the club. As fans grappled with the news, one voice stood out amid the flood of tributes: Jack Grealish, De Bruyne’s teammate and friend, who poured his heart into an emotional farewell that captured the depth of their bond and the magnitude of the moment.
Grealish, the charismatic England international who joined Manchester City in 2021 for a record-breaking £100 million, didn’t hold back in expressing what De Bruyne meant to him. “One of the reasons I joined City was to play alongside you brother!” he wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post, accompanied by a collage of photos showcasing their on-pitch chemistry and off-field camaraderie. The images—moments of celebration after goals, trophy lifts, and shared laughter—told a story of a partnership that transcended the game. “The best I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing with for sure. Legend!” Grealish added, his words resonating with a mix of admiration and sorrow as he bid farewell to a player who’d been a cornerstone of his City experience.
De Bruyne’s departure announcement came via a poignant letter to the Manchester faithful, a message that laid bare his gratitude and the bittersweet reality of moving on. “Dear Manchester,” he began, setting the tone for an emotional goodbye. “Football led me to all of you—and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life… And guess what—we won EVERYTHING.” Over 10 years, De Bruyne racked up 16 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a long-elusive Champions League crown in 2023. His stats—106 goals and 174 assists in 413 appearances—paint a picture of a player who redefined midfield brilliance. Yet, this season, injuries and inconsistent form hinted at the twilight of his City chapter, making his exit, while shocking, not entirely unexpected.
For Grealish, the news hit close to home. When he left Aston Villa to join Pep Guardiola’s juggernaut, the chance to link up with De Bruyne was a driving force. Their time together peaked during the 2022-23 season, when City clinched a historic treble—Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. Grealish contributed five goals and 11 assists, while De Bruyne’s 10 goals and 29 assists were the heartbeat of that triumphant campaign. Together, they wove magic on the pitch, with De Bruyne’s pinpoint passes often finding Grealish in stride, a duo that thrilled fans and tormented defenses.
The timing of De Bruyne’s exit adds another layer of intrigue. His contract expires in June 2025, just as City prepares for the Club World Cup in the United States. Whether he’ll don the sky blue one last time for that tournament remains unclear, but his legacy is already cemented. Guardiola, the tactical genius behind City’s dominance, called it a “sad day,” hailing De Bruyne as “one of the greatest” in Premier League history. “Our success in the last decade, that would be impossible without him,” the manager said, hinting at a future statue to honor the Belgian’s contributions alongside icons like Vincent Kompany and Sergio Agüero.
Grealish’s tribute, though, was personal—a teammate’s lament for a departing brother-in-arms. As City faces a potential squad overhaul, with rumors swirling about Grealish’s own future amid a frustrating season of limited starts, his words carried extra weight. “The best I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing with” wasn’t just praise—it was a nod to the inspiration De Bruyne provided, a benchmark Grealish chased since day one at the Etihad.
As the football world speculates on De Bruyne’s next move—Major League Soccer? Saudi Arabia?—Manchester City fans are left to savor his final months. Grealish’s farewell encapsulated the sentiment of a club and a city bracing for life without their talisman. “Legend!” he wrote, a single word that echoed across social media, from teammates like Erling Haaland to rivals like John Terry. For Grealish and the City faithful, the summer of 2025 won’t just mark the end of an era—it’ll be a goodbye to a player who gave everything, and in return, won it all.