Kevin De Bruyne MLS Transfer Rumors. Why San Diego is a Likely Suitor | OneFootball

A year ago I made a strident argument that Kevin De Bruyne would move to MLS after leaving Manchester City. Many folks looked at Chicago Fire as a leading contender, but I always leaned more in San Diego’s direction.

By the end of July 2025 SDFC was absolutely red hot. The league’s newest franchise was flying high in the Western Conference, with owners who were willing to spend. Crucially, they had an open DP slot, the other two occupied by Anders Dreyer and Hirving “Chucky” Lozano. The location and weather was also an x-factor, my belief being that all things being equal, De Bruyne would see San Diego as a more comfortable solution.

Best laid plans…

As it turns out, all that speculation was moot. De Bruyne signed with Napoli for a two year deal. It started well for the Belgian, but a significant thigh/hamstring injury in October sidelined him for around 4 months. Ultimately, most pundits have rated his first year at the club as underwhelming and a bit of a disappointment, particularly as the expectations were so high. 

De Bruyne has another year on his contract. His form for Belgium during the World Cup was solid enough to show the world that he’s still among the globe’s elite creative midfielders, even at 35 years old. Napoli has made no public motions indicating anything about De Bruyne’s status, and our sources indicate no formal negotiations have been broached.

This hasn’t stopped the rumor mill

Over the weekend social media was abuzz that Inter Miami was courting the Belgian. Mondo Deportivo wrote a story on it. But reasonable people scoffed. Even for a club that flouts MLS regulations the way most people flick a booger off their finger, making a signing of De Bruyne’s stature after pulling the trigger on Casemiro would be difficult.

But one thing Mondo might have gotten right is that MLS was suddenly an viable option for De Bruyne. He just spent a month in the country. And San Diego is still interested, if they can just clear up one little thing….

San Diego’s DP problem

You see, San Diego filled their final DP slot with Tunisian international Elias Achouri, signed last week from FC København. Achouri is young and full of potential, and this was a solid strategic move.

Yet it had to light a fire under the SDFC executives to resolve the awkward stalemate with Hirving Lozano. Since the end of the 2025 season “Chucky” has been a millstone around San Diego’s neck. The club announced in late 2025 that they have no plans to use him. Lozano reportedly resisted any attempts during the offseason to transfer him.

The Mexican winger is collecting his $115,000 a week salary while being spotted training at the SDFC facility. Alone.

San Diego knows that a vacant Designated Player position is critical to drawing big international talent like De Bruyne.

And so, like clockwork, we got this

Late yesterday Tom Bogert dropped a nugget suggesting that Lozano was being courted by LA Galaxy for a possible loan, with San Diego’s full blessing.

Source: @tomborgert on X

Now it all starts making sense! Sure, San Diego may still have to pay out a good chunk of Lozano’s salary, but the open DP spot is worth every penny of that.

I’m not making any claims. But I am arguing that if De Bruyne was pondering a move, San Diego makes the most sense. And the club appears to be making the moves allowing for it. Let’s face it, San Diego’s season hasn’t gone well so far, and bringing in De Bruyne has tremendous upside.