'always be here' - man city confirm extra honour for kevin de bruyne

MANCHESTER CITY STAR KEVIN DE BRUYNE WILL BE IMMORTALISED AT THE ETIHAD STADIUM TO CELEBRATE THE CLUB'S MOST SUCCESSFUL PLAYER EVER. 22:40, 20 May 2025 Manchester City will build a

statue of Kevin De Bruyne to celebrate his achievements at the club. The Belgian will be honoured outside the Etihad to mark his status as one of the greatest players in their history. A

statue was announced for De Bruyne at the end of his final appearance at the Etihad, starting in a 3-1 win over Bournemouth that pushes the club to the brink of qualification for the

Champions League next season. The permanent tribute to him will join dedications to former teammates Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany, David Silva as well as greats Mike Summerbee, Colin Bell

and Franny Lee. "It means I will always be part of this club,” he said as he reacted to the news. “Whenever I come back with family and friends, I will be able to see myself so I will

always be here.” It was an emotional farewell for De Bruyne to the club and the supporters together with his wife and children. They embarked on a lap of honour around the stadium for the

tens of thousands of fans who stayed late into the night to say goodbye to one of the greatest. The statue is one of a number of honours handed out to De Bruyne as he nears the end of his

City career. Earlier on Tuesday it was confirmed that the road which links the Academy to the first team centre at the training ground has been renamed Kevin De Bruyne Crescent. He was also

presented with a lifetime season ticket by Marie Bell, wife of Colin, and their son Jon. That followed a video presentation where former teammates shared what he meant to them. De

Bruyne's final game will come at Craven Cottage on Sunday as City look to seal a top-five finish in the Premier League. They need a point at Fulham to confirm their place in next

season's Champions League, although defeat may be acceptable if other results go their way. The Belgian will still be under contract when City head off for the Club World Cup in June,

although he has said he is unlikely to play in that. As he focuses on finding a new club, his main responsibility is on keeping himself fit so that he can be ready for next season without

having to worry about picking up an injury. City will press on with their plans to replace De Bruyne in the transfer market. They were interested in Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz but

have stepped back from a deal due to concerns over the price. --- _Here at the Manchester Evening News, we’re dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester City coverage and analysis._

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