Kevin De Bruyne described his final appearance at the Etihad Stadium as “surreal” after Manchester City celebrated their legendary captain with a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth, propelling them to third in the Premier League table.
The Belgian maestro, who has been instrumental in City’s dominance since his arrival in 2015, leaves behind an extraordinary legacy—six Premier League titles, a Champions League triumph, and 16 major trophies in total. Yet, despite his countless contributions, even De Bruyne admitted the moment felt strange.
“It’s a bit surreal,” he said post-match. “This journey has been incredible. My goal was always to entertain, to play with creativity and passion. Working hard for this club and achieving so much has been an honor. I couldn’t be prouder.”
The only blemish on his farewell was a rare miss in the first half, as he smashed a close-range effort against the crossbar before reacting in disbelief.
“That was awful—no excuses,” De Bruyne joked. “My son won’t let me hear the end of it.”
The 33-year-old received a hero’s send-off when substituted in the 69th minute, embraced by his teammates and serenaded by a thunderous ovation. After the final whistle, he was honored with a guard of appreciation from the squad and staff, while fans chanted his name in unison.
“To see the stadium full, supporting me and my family—it’s beyond words,” he said. “How many players get 50,000 fans saying goodbye like this? It’s something I’ll never forget.”
The club confirmed plans to immortalize him with a statue, ensuring his legacy remains forever etched in City’s history.
Despite his status as one of the Premier League’s greatest midfielders, De Bruyne revealed slight surprise at not being offered a new contract. Yet, he remains confident he can still compete at the highest level.
Fans paid tribute with a colossal “King Kev” banner, while countless “17” jerseys and “KDB” face paintings filled the stands. A heartfelt video montage featured messages from former teammates—Sergio Agüero, Vincent Kompany, Raheem Sterling, and others—honoring his impact.
“Congrats on an amazing career. It was an honor to share the pitch with you—you’re a true City legend. So am I, by the way! See you soon, brother,” Agüero quipped.
Manager Pep Guardiola called it a bittersweet day. “Ten years of memories, trophies, and unforgettable moments. Today showed how much love there is for Kevin. It’s sad, but also beautiful to see him contribute one last time to a crucial win.”
The victory lifted City to 68 points, two ahead of Newcastle, Chelsea, and Aston Villa in the tense race for Champions League qualification.
Omar Marmoush opened the scoring with a stunning 30-yard strike, followed by Bernardo Silva’s close-range finish and Nico González’s late goal. Bournemouth’s Daniel Jebbison netted a consolation in stoppage time.
The match saw both teams reduced to 10 men after Mateo Kovačić and Lewis Cook were dismissed for reckless challenges.
Rodri made his long-awaited return from an ACL injury, entering to a standing ovation—a fitting moment on an emotional night for City.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola admitted his side struggled with City’s intensity. “They started strong and scored a world-class goal. That set the tone.”
As the curtain fell on De Bruyne’s Etihad career, the day was a testament to his brilliance—both on and off the pitch.
