De Bruyne stays in Europe... but far from Napoli
The Belgian is planning to leave the Italian team six months before his contract ends; there is a surprising team that is keeping a close eye on him.
Kevin De Bruyne, 35-year-old Belgian midfielder, has become the main target for PSV Eindhoven in the upcoming winter transfer market. According to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, the Eredivisie club has already begun contacts to try to secure his departure from Napoli in January, taking advantage of the fact that his contract ends in June 2027.
The Belgian international has lost his place in the starting eleven of the Italian team, and his situation has sparked interest from several clubs. PSV believes it can leverage this scenario to bring in a player who arrived free in Italy in the summer of 2025, after ten seasons at Manchester City.
Qué buena decisión (y qué bonita) la de Kevin De Bruyne yéndose a jugar al Nápoles y regalar su fútbol al menos una temporada allí y no en un país exótico donde ya nada importa. Y todavía sigue bien vigente su fútbol. https://t.co/I6NiIdWKqR
— Iván (@IvaanBlanco26) October 1, 2025
Kevin De Bruyne, the PSV Eindhoven target for January
The operation has begun to take shape in recent hours. According to Dutch media such as Voetbal International and Eindhovens Dagblad, PSV Eindhoven is already in talks with Kevin De Bruyne's camp to explore the possibilities of signing him during the winter transfer market. The Napoli listens to offers for De Bruyne.
The midfielder has not rejected the proposal and initial discussions are reportedly progressing favorably. However, there is still no financial agreement, and the Dutch club will need to negotiate the terms of his exit with Napoli.
One of PSV's main arguments is the duration of his contract. De Bruyne's deal ends in June 2027, although the Italian club has an option to extend it for another season. His current valuation on Transfermarkt is around 8 million euros.
The sporting situation also influences interest. The Belgian has played 11 Serie A matches, scoring 4 goals and providing one assist in 624 minutes. Although he has participated in all league matches, he has only been a starter in 6, a circumstance that could favor his departure.
Coach Peter Bosz has publicly expressed his admiration for De Bruyne. His signing would allow PSV to add a midfielder capable of organizing play and participating in generating chances, two roles he performed during his time in England.
Napoli and salary, the obstacles to closing the signing
Napoli still has to comment on the conditions of a possible operation. Although the proximity of the end of the contract could facilitate negotiations, the Italian club retains its rights and is not obliged to accept a proposal in January.
The other determining factor is salary. PSV would have to take on a high remuneration for their economic possibilities, so discussions will need to formalize both the player's demands and the amount of a potential transfer.
Additionally, the Eredivisie side is not the only interested party. Everton has also been linked with the Belgian international, which could introduce competition if he ultimately decides to leave Italy in the upcoming market.
In Eindhoven, there is a precedent with experienced players like Mario Götze and Ivan Perisic, who were brought in through operations that allowed the club to add players with international experience. Now, the sports management led by Earnest Stewart is considering a similar operation.
The coming weeks will be crucial to determine if contacts progress toward a formal offer. Kevin De Bruyne will need to evaluate the sporting and economic conditions of PSV Eindhoven, while the Dutch club will have to reach an agreement with Napoli before the opening of the January 2027 market.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, De Bruyne se queda en Europa... pero muy lejos del Nápoles