Kevin De Bruyne has announced he's leaving Manchester City, and MLS clubs are lining up to bring him to North America. The Belgian midfielder might not be at his absolute peak anymore, but he's still world-class and would immediately upgrade any team lucky enough to sign him.
With the 2026 World Cup coming to America, the timing couldn't be better for MLS to land such a massive star. According to The Athletic, four teams are fighting for his signature: Inter Miami, Chicago Fire, D.C. United, and New York City FC.
Inter Miami: The Star-Studded Option
Miami owns De Bruyne's MLS Discovery Rights, giving them the inside track on signing him. But there's a catch! If he joins in summer 2025, he'd need to come as a non-designated player making only $871,875 for the remainder of that season.
It's similar to how Zlatan joined LA Galaxy, but with less money and no guarantees for future contracts. After 2025, Miami would need to rearrange their Designated Player slots currently occupied by Messi, Suárez, and Alba.
On the field, KDB would slot perfectly alongside Sergio Busquets in midfield. This partnership would be devastating for opponents and likely make Miami heavy favorites in betting markets across all MLS competitions.
Some clubs might be frustrated by this potential move, though. Miami's ability to add another superstar to their already stacked team could create even more competitive imbalance in the league.
Three More Contenders
Chicago Fire has been working to become relevant again since moving back to Soldier Field. After hiring Gregg Berhalter and attempting to sign Neymar, they clearly want a superstar, and De Bruyne fits the bill perfectly.
The Fire have started 2025 decently with 12 points from eight games. Adding an elite creative midfielder to feed strikers like Hugo Cuypers could transform them into legitimate MLS Cup contenders.
New York City FC has two open DP spots and belongs to the City Football Group, making this transition potentially seamless. However, KDB might want a fresh start away from the City umbrella.
He'd fit beautifully alongside Maxi Moralez or allow the aging NYCFC star some rest. With their new stadium, Etihad Park, opening in 2026, NYCFC might spend big to have a marquee face for the franchise.
D.C. United might be the dark horse, but it makes sense. De Bruyne could link up with fellow Belgian Christian Benteke, who would thrive with elite service from midfield.
D.C. hasn't had a global superstar since Wayne Rooney, and they have an open DP slot. They'd likely need to outbid everyone else, but it could transform this franchise overnight.
For bettors, whichever team lands De Bruyne will see their championship odds shrink dramatically. His passing ability alone could add 15-20 goals to any team's season total, making over/under team goal totals an interesting market to watch.
