Man City De Bruyne replacement 2025 rumors are heating up as Pep Guardiola’s side prepare for life after their legendary midfielder. With de Bruyne announcing his departure after a decade of dominance, former teammate Florent Malouda has suggested three possible successors to inherit his role in midfield.
De Bruyne to Leave – Who Steps Up?
Kevin De Bruyne’s time at Manchester City will officially come to an end this summer. The Belgian midfielder has been a key figure in City’s rise under Pep Guardiola, playing 418 matches and contributing to 6 Premier League titles and the club’s first Champions League in 2023.
City now face the enormous task of replacing one of the greatest midfielders of the modern era. Speaking to Racing Tipster, Florent Malouda offered insight into who could fill the gap:
“City’s scouts can find treasures… but Gibbs-White and Wirtz are the most obvious choices to replace Kevin De Bruyne.” — Florent Malouda
While Malouda favors a move for Youri Tielemans due to his Premier League experience, Florian Wirtz and Morgan Gibbs-White are being heavily linked. However, Wirtz is reportedly close to joining Bayern Munich, leaving Gibbs-White and Tielemans as the more realistic candidates.
Malouda Backs Tielemans as Ideal De Bruyne Successor
Malouda said more in an exclusive interview with Racing Tipster:
“Manchester City will really struggle to replace De Bruyne. I don’t think City had prepared well enough for him reaching the end of his time at the Etihad. The squad is overcrowded in some places but not ready to replace him.
I think they should go for a player who already has Premier League experience. I would. I would go for the Belgian player, Youri Tielemans, who is at Aston Villa. I think in the midfield at Manchester City, they need the kind of player he is.”
Kevin De Bruyne’s Man City Legacy
| Trophy | Count |
|---|---|
| Premier League | 6 |
| Champions League | 1 |
| FA Cup | 2 |
| League Cup | 5 |
| Community Shield | 2 |
- Confirmed Departure: Kevin De Bruyne will leave Manchester City after the 2024–25 season.
- Malouda’s Picks: Florian Wirtz, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Youri Tielemans are top replacement candidates.
- Midfield Gap: De Bruyne leaves behind 108 goals and 177 assists in 418 appearances.
- Premier League Experience: Tielemans is seen as the most practical replacement due to league familiarity.
What’s Next for City and De Bruyne?
Manchester City still have an FA Cup final to prepare for, and De Bruyne will want to sign off in style. Liverpool are rumored to be lining up a move for the Belgian, while Guardiola must decide whether to promote from within or enter the transfer market for a marquee signing.
Who should replace Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City? Will Tielemans or Gibbs-White fit the bill—or should Guardiola go big? Leave your pick in the comments and share this article with your City mates.
1 Comment (last comment by Adem)
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By Adem 9 May 2025 21:21
I would suggest Malouda not to suggest next time, because out of those three only Wirtz would succeed, but then, he's a totally different player than Kevin is.
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