📍 April 18, 2025 | By ESPN News Services

One of the Premier League’s greatest modern players is officially on the market.

Manchester City will not offer Kevin De Bruyne a new contract beyond the 2024-25 season. While the decision was not a major surprise given his recent injury history and City’s transition plans, it has triggered major speculation about his next destination.

De Bruyne, who has recorded 188 goals and assists in 279 City appearances and won six Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy, now faces a pivotal decision.

Here’s where things stand — and where he might be headed.

Is Kevin De Bruyne Interested in MLS?

Sources indicate strong interest from De Bruyne’s side. The U.S. offers an appealing lifestyle for him and his young family, and De Bruyne has attended MLS matches in the past.

Saudi Arabia is also a strong contender, offering more lucrative financial packages. However, adjusting to life there could be more challenging compared to the U.S.

De Bruyne still believes he can perform at an elite level. After a recent win over Crystal Palace, he left the door open for multiple options, stating:

“Whatever project is available, I’m willing to listen. I love football. If a nice project comes and my family is good with that, then we are able to make a decision.”

If top-tier European clubs show interest, De Bruyne may stay in Europe a bit longer. But if not, MLS — particularly Inter Miami — appears to be the preferred option over Saudi Arabia.

What Role Do De Bruyne’s MLS Discovery Rights Play?

MLS teams can reserve the exclusive right to negotiate with players through the “discovery rights” system. Inter Miami currently holds De Bruyne’s discovery rights.

This means if any other MLS club wishes to sign him, they must negotiate with Inter Miami and likely pay general allocation money (GAM) to acquire those rights.

Sources suggest Inter Miami may be interested in signing De Bruyne, but they could also leverage his rights in exchange for valuable GAM.

Can Inter Miami Afford De Bruyne Under MLS Salary Rules?

Yes — but it’s complicated.

Inter Miami already has three Designated Players (DPs): Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. MLS allows only three DPs per team.

Because Alba, Busquets, and Messi earn salaries well above the $1.74 million max-TAM threshold, none are eligible to be bought down.

Thus, De Bruyne would need to play on a Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) deal initially, meaning he would earn no more than $871,875 for the remainder of 2025 — a significant discount compared to his current City salary.

The contract could then include heavily backloaded option years with much higher salaries, but MLS would closely scrutinize the arrangement for compliance, especially given Inter Miami’s past salary violations.

The setup would mirror Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s initial LA Galaxy deal in 2018.

If Not Miami, What Other MLS Teams Could Sign De Bruyne?

Several teams have expressed interest:

• Chicago Fire are emerging as a serious candidate. They have two DP slots filled and could easily add De Bruyne as a third.

• D.C. United and New York City FC have also shown preliminary interest.

Any team interested would first have to negotiate with Inter Miami for the discovery rights, typically involving a GAM transaction.

Financially, clubs like Chicago appear well-positioned to offer a competitive package.

If Not MLS, What Are De Bruyne’s European Options?

If De Bruyne decides he still wants to compete at the highest level in Europe, options will be limited.

• Premier League offers are unlikely due to salary demands.

• A move to LaLiga (e.g., Barcelona) could be attractive, but financial issues may block that path.

• Serie A could be a realistic landing spot, where older stars have often found new life.

• Returning to Belgium and playing for Genk, where his career began, is a sentimental — but less competitive — option.

Ultimately, a short European stay before moving to MLS or Saudi Arabia remains possible. However, as of now, MLS seems to have the upper hand.

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