In a surprising turn of events, Chelsea is reportedly holding early talks to sign Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne, according to insider journalist Simon Phillips via CaughtOffSide.
On Friday, April 25, reports revealed that while De Bruyne has long been linked with a move to Major League Soccer (MLS), the Belgian midfielder hasn’t ruled out staying in the Premier League—and Stamford Bridge could be his next destination.
The 32-year-old playmaker’s contract at Manchester City expires this summer, meaning he could walk away from the Etihad as a free agent under a Bosman transfer.
Though negotiations are said to be at a very early stage, the prospect of De Bruyne returning to Chelsea—the club he left in 2014 before becoming a superstar at City—has sparked buzz across the football world.
This season, De Bruyne has tallied five goals and eight assists across all competitions, despite injury setbacks. While Chelsea doesn’t currently need him to start every match—especially with breakout star Cole Palmer excelling in the attacking midfield role—De Bruyne would add massive experience and creativity as a rotation option and locker room leader.
If the deal goes through, it would be one of the most unexpected and dramatic transfer twists of the summer.
