GOAL takes a look at five MLS franchises that could be potential fits for De Bruyne if he opts to join the league
Kevin De Bruyne is officially leaving Manchester City at the end of the 2025 season. The Belgium international became one of the finest midfielders of this generation playing under Pep Guardiola, making more than 400 appearances for the Premier League club.
"Football led me to all you – and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life," De Bruyne wrote in an emotional statement on social media on Friday. "Whether we like it or not, it’s time to say goodbye. Every story comes to an end but this has definitely been the best chapter."
The 33-year-old's next stop is unknown, but he will have no shortage of suitors in the summer, with plenty of clubs in Major League Soccer, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and beyond linked with a free transfer. He's frequently been linked with a move to MLS, where he could join the likes of Lionel Messi as a big-name European player landing in MLS.
Manchester City sister club NYCFC is an early frontrunner, due to their relationship with the Premier League side. However, Inter Miami, Chicago Fire, LA Galaxy and LAFC also make sense as possible destinations. Each club is in a major metropolitan area in which he could be a face of a franchise,
However, it is not as simple as any MLS team just offering him a contract. Each MLS franchise would need to have a Designated Player roster spot available to offer him, along with salary space – not to mention a need on the pitch.
Some technicalities to get out of the way.
MLS has two roster-construction models that clubs submitted ahead of the 2025 season. The model each club chose could determine whether or not they have the ability to bring in a player of De Bruyne's caliber.
The options:
Three Designated Player Model: Up to three Designated Players AND up to three U22 Initiative Players.
U22 Initiative Player Model: Up to two Designated Players AND up to four U22 Initiative Players AND up to an additional $2 Million of General Allocation Money.
Implemented ahead of the 2025 season, clubs have the conditional option to update their roster construction model between July 1 and the close of the secondary transfer window on Aug. 21. That could allow teams to make a play for a player such De Bruyne this summer. However, if a club changes their roster construction model, they have to fit the criteria beforehand.
The options:
U22 Initiative Player Model to Designated Player Model: The club must have used $1M or less of the additional GAM and have no more than three U22 Initiative Players on their roster.
Designated Player Model to U22 Initiative Player Model: The club may only invest up to $1M of additional GAM during the remainder of the season and must have no more than two Designated Players on their roster.
Those details will matter, as roster compliance changes midseason could be the key to bringing De Bruyne to MLS. Which team could be a potential fit for the Man City star? GOAL US takes a look.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportChicago Fire
When the Chicago Fire approached Neymar's camp this past January, before the Brazilian joined his childhood club Santos in Brazil, they laid out an ambitious plan to bring in the former Barcelona star.
They could absolutely do that for De Bruyne. The Fire currently have two DP slots and two U22 slots filled, and opted to choose the U22 initiative player model to begin the season. If compliant midseason, they could change to the Three Designated Player model and would be able to use a third DP slot on a player of De Bruyne's caliber – while still having an additional U22 slot.
Former Belgium youth international Hugo Cuypers currently leads the line for Chicago, and the Man City man would only bring out more from him in Gregg Berhalter's system. The Fire's current No. 10, Brian Gutierrez, has two caps with the U.S. men's national team, and is being touted for a potential move to Europe this summer.
If the 21-year-old were to depart, it would open up a spot for De Bruyne, while instantly upgrading the Fire's roster as they continue to build their project under Berhalter. The Fire could make De Bruyne the face of the club, while having a manager with vast experience and multiple pieces around him.
AdvertisementIMGANLA Galaxy
Right now, the Galaxy have all three Designated Player slots occupied by a star trio from their 2024 MLS Cup run – Riqui Puig, Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec. However, one of those slots could open – which would be key to a potential arrival for De Bruyne at MLS' most storied franchise.
Pec has garnered transfer interest from across the globe after his stupendous 2024 breakout campaign, and the Galaxy may not be able to hold onto his talent throughout the summer transfer window. The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool have reportedly been monitoring the Brazilian, and if he were to depart, a roster spot – and salary space – could open for De Bruyne.
Of course, Marco Reus is also an attacking midfielder. But the former German international, who signed on a TAM contract in 2024 on a deal through 2026, has not had a solid start to life in MLS. He's started just two matches for the Galaxy this season, too – and if De Bruyne would be an upgrade over the ex-Borussia Dortmund man.
The reigning champions could desperately use a creator such as De Bruyne, too, as Puig is recovering from a torn ACL – and they're missing a key creator in the final-third. By joining LA, De Bruyne would follow European greats such as David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
NYCFCNYCFC
Sister club of Manchester City, NYCFC seems like the most likely destination – and perhaps the best fit, too. The Eastern Conference side have a DP spot they could give to the Belgian, and have salary space to potentially offer him a deal. The club is also in the middle of a rebuild project under the leadership of Pascal Jansen, a manager that City officials brought in from Europe.
The club only have one rostered DP at the moment, Thiago Martins, with U22 initiative duo Agustin Ojeda and Julian Fernandez leading their roster in terms of talent. De Bruyne would be the perfect No. 10 to fill into their XI.
Striker Alonso Martinez, who had a career-year in 2024, is off to a brilliant start to 2024 – but it's become increasingly clear that his previous attack partner, Santiago Rodriguez, is missing. The Argentine DP was recently transferred to Brazilian side Botafogo for $17M, and his departure has left a hole in their midfield and attack – a spot where De Bruyne would seamlessly fit.
NYCFC are also opening up a soccer-specific stadium in New York, and De Bruyne would be the perfect face to lead them out of the tunnel into their new ground. That, and he already looks good in blue – why change it?
AFPInter Miami
Inter Miami cannot presently bring De Bruyne in on a transfer. Their roster won't allow it, due to Designated Player contracts with Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
It's not the most realistic of options, but it's perhaps the biggest blockbuster move he could make in MLS. And if it were to happen, the odds of him adding more silverware to his trophy cabinet would grow.
The would need to buy-down the contract of Alba, who makes a base salary of $1.25M, to open up a DP slot, which could then be allocated to De Bruyne. To do so, they would need to use General Allocation Money, and the budget charge itself could not be less than $150,000.
Messi and Busquets are MLS' top-earners in terms of base salaries, with the Argentine earning $12M and the Spaniard at $8.5M. If De Bruyne were to join them, he would likely command a similar salary.
The biggest questions around a potential move to Miami aren't if they could find a roster spot – Alba's salary is low enough as a DP that a buy-down is technically feasible – but rather, if they can afford to add another hefty salary to their books.
If they opt to do so, it would be the biggest splash since the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner signed in MLS.
