Kevin De Bruyne: Is the Manchester star moving to Chicago Fire?

Kevin De Bruyne: Is the Manchester star moving to Chicago Fire?

Kevin De Bruyne, the Belgian superstar from Manchester City, is about to move to Major League Soccer (MLS) in the USA. The 33-year-old, whose contract expires on June 30, 2025, has announced that he will leave Manchester City at the end of this season without incurring a transfer fee. Loud LAOLA1 and CBS Sports The MLS club Chicago Fire is showing great interest and is considered the favorite to sign the playmaker.

De Bruyne won 19 titles and scored 189 goals in his ten-year career at Manchester City. A key player in City's success, he was instrumental in winning numerous titles. Despite his desire for a new challenge, the Belgian has also mentioned that he could consider possible options in the Premier League or Europe before deciding on a move to Chicago.

Future in the MLS

The Chicago Fire is currently undergoing a transformation under coach and general manager Gregg Berhalter. The club has reached the playoffs just once in the last 12 seasons, underscoring the urgency of a fresh start. In the current season, they sit 11th in the Eastern Conference after five games, just four points shy of a playoff spot. A De Bruyne transfer could give the team a much-needed boost to get back into the league's top ranks, reports The New York Times.

The Chicago Fire has discovery rights to De Bruyne, meaning they can deal with him exclusively. Inter Miami, another interested club, already has three Designated Players and cannot sign De Bruyne under these conditions. Discussions between De Bruyne and Inter Miami have taken place, but they have not come to a concrete result. Also D.C. United and New York City FC have expressed interest, with D.C. United may be more interested in Paul Pogba.

A look into the future

In addition to Chicago, interest from Saudi Arabian clubs vying for De Bruyne shows the Belgium international has a number of options. Ultimately, De Bruyne must carefully consider the entire situation, including professional and family aspects, before making his decision. The player emphasized that it was important to him to look not only at sporting reasons, but also at his personal situation.

Meanwhile, Chicago coach Berhalter looks set to firm up his plans for next season as De Bruyne could potentially have a huge impact on the team. Signing a player of De Bruyne's caliber would significantly boost the club's ambitions and make them serious MLS Cup contenders. The anticipation for the upcoming developments in this transfer matter remains high.