Kevin De Bruyne has officially joined Napoli on a free transfer following his departure from Manchester City. The celebrated midfielder, who is set to turn 34 this month, made the move just three days after scoring a dramatic late winner for Belgium against Wales.
Upon his arrival for a medical, De Bruyne was warmly welcomed by fervent fans chanting his name. Napoli’s social media celebrated the signing with a playful post featuring De Bruyne on a throne, adorned with a Napoli shield and a sword, captioned, “King Kev is here.”
De Bruyne leaves behind a remarkable legacy at Manchester City, having made over 400 appearances since joining from Wolfsburg in 2015. His departure has prompted City to continue preparations for a future without him, as they are moving forward with plans to sign 18-year-old midfielder Sverre Nypan from Rosenborg for €14.6 million. Although personal terms are still to be finalized, City appears confident about securing the young talent.
In addition to De Bruyne’s move, Brighton & Hove Albion is also active in the transfer market, set to finalize the signing of 18-year-old striker Charalampos Kostoulas from Olympiakos for an initial £30 million. Kostoulas, who excelled in the Olympiakos academy, is poised to make a significant impact as he joins Brighton’s first team for pre-season.
Brighton is additionally looking to strengthen their defense with the anticipated signing of French defender Olivier Boscagli from PSV on a free transfer and continues discussions over a potential move for Diego Coppola of Verona, with an optimistic fee of £8.5 million in play.
As the summer transfer window remains vibrant with activity, it brings renewed hope and potential for clubs like Napoli and Brighton as they look to reshape their squads for the upcoming season. This period marks not only a transition for established players like De Bruyne but also for promising talents like Kostoulas, indicating an exciting future for both clubs.