Fabrizio Romano provides Kevin De Bruyne transfer update amid rumours linking him with Saudi club
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has commented on Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne's reported agreement with Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad. The 33-year-old is out of contract next summer.
De Bruyne has been a key first-team player at the Etihad since he arrived in the summer of 2015. Since then, he has contributed impressive tallies of 102 goals and 170 assists in 382 games across competitions.
However, with his contract running out next summer, there have been reports of interest in his services, especially from Saudi Arabia. However, Romano has tweeted that Saudi sources are 'playing down reports' of De Bruyne's move to Al-Ittihad, who are reportedly on the cusp of snapping up Moussa Diaby.
Romano also reported that the Saudi Pro League side are keen on signing up goalkeeper Ederson, but the deal is not expected to be a walk in the park.
Pep Guardiola's side are coming off another successful season, winning an unprecedented fourth straight Premier League title. It was their sixth league title in seven years, both firsts in English football history.
However, they were denied another slice of history - becoming the first side to win back-to-back English domestic doubles - as the holders lost 2-1 to Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
How did Kevin De Bruyne fare for Manchester City last season?
Kevin De Bruyne is the crown jewel of Pep Guardiola's star-studded Manchester City side. The Belgian playmaker had an injury-plagued 2023-24 season but still played a role in his team's successful campaign.
In 26 games across competitions, he contributed six goals and an impressive 18 assists. Most of those goal contributions - four goals and 10 assists in 18 games in the Premier League - where Guardiola's side won another title.
De Bruyne also contributed five assists in as many games in the FA Cup as City lost in the final to United. In the UEFA Champions League, he bagged two goals and as many assists in two games as the holders were knocked out in the quarter-finals on penalties by eventual champions Real Madrid.