Kevin de Bruyne leaving Man City, unlikely Aston Villa summer addition | OneFootball

As Aston Villa prepares for their Premier League and FA Cup matches, a notable change is coming for Manchester City soon. Kevin de Bruyne announced on social media that he would not be returning to the club that he has been a member of for so long at the conclusion of this season.

The Belgian player is past his prime, but there are a number of sides that will be intrigued by the potential of adding him to their ranks. On the surface, bringing de Bruyne into Villa would not make sense. After all, between the likes of John McGinn, Morgan Rogers, and Donyell Malen, there are a lot of options in that midfield role.

There is something of a possibility worth entertaining. Monchi continues to pull off moves, and doubting the Spaniard at this point is something of a foolhardy task. If the president of football operations believes de Bruyne could help the side on a reasonable contract, he would be able to get it done.

More of this will come down to where de Bruyne feels himself at this stage of his career. The possibilities that are more lucrative would include the Saudi league or the MLS. Sometimes, players at this point opt for this route of being able to be paid a lot and playing more carefree, remaining as the top option in the later years.

Slight Aston Villa possibility

It isn't unusual for some to choose to accept a reduced role for lesser money in order to be part of a team that is competing for silverware. For some, the allure of playing on a good side, in a good locker room, outweighs the aforementioned potential moves.

At the end of the day, de Bruyne could provide valuable experience and be a great option for depth for the 2025-2026 campaign. Players are thriving under Emery, and they are in the hunt for trophies while competing well. If not the Belgian, expect Monchi at some point to make a serious push for someone with a similar resume to help bolster the squad for next season.