Man City to honour De Bruyne with statue outside Etihad Stadium
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Photo: @mancity
Manchester: Manchester City have announced they will honour Kevin De Bruyne’s remarkable decade of service by commissioning a special statue outside the Etihad Stadium, celebrating the Belgian midfielder’s extraordinary career at the club.
The announcement came moments after City’s penultimate Premier League fixture of the 2024/25 season – a home clash against Bournemouth – which marked De Bruyne’s final appearance at the Etihad Stadium. The 33-year-old, who has become one of the most iconic figures in the club’s history, expressed his pride and gratitude at receiving such a tribute.
"It means I will always be part of this club. Whenever I come back with family and friends, I will be able to see myself, so I will always be here," De Bruyne said.
The midfielder will leave Manchester City this summer after a decade defined by success and individual brilliance. Having made over 400 appearances for the club, De Bruyne helped the team lift 19 major trophies, including six Premier League titles. He was named Premier League Player of the Season twice, in 2019/20 and 2021/22, and won the Playmaker of the Season award on three occasions – 2017/18, 2019/20, and 2022/23. His 20 assists during the 2019/20 campaign remain a joint record in a Premier League season, a feat he shares with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
Following the final whistle at the Etihad, De Bruyne was presented with a framed shirt signed by his team-mates and staff, along with a lifetime City Season Card. A video tribute was played on the stadium’s big screen, paying homage to his influence and legacy.
The statue will see De Bruyne join a revered group of Manchester City legends who have previously been immortalised outside the stadium. In 2021, statues of former captain Vincent Kompany and midfield maestro David Silva were unveiled. The following year, a statue was dedicated to Sergio Aguero, the club’s all-time top scorer, whose unforgettable 93:20 goal clinched City’s first-ever Premier League title in 2012. In 2023, a further tribute was made with a statue honouring legendary trio Mike Summerbee, Francis Lee, and Colin Bell, recognising their combined 30 years of service from the 1960s onwards.
Earlier on Tuesday, De Bruyne also attended a ceremony at the City Football Academy where a mosaic was unveiled in his honour by City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak. The mosaic joins a series of commemorations dedicated to club greats including Yaya Toure, Joe Hart, David Silva, Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan.
Kevin De Bruyne’s enduring influence over the past ten years will now be enshrined in the club’s history, as City prepare to honour his legacy with a permanent statue – a fitting tribute to one of the finest players in Manchester City’s illustrious history.
With IANS inputs
