Kevin De Bruyne’s impending departure from Manchester City marks the end of an era for the club, leaving fans, players, and management with the daunting task of replacing one of the greatest midfielders the Premier League has ever seen. The Belgian maestro has been pivotal to City’s dominance in English football over the past decade, playing an instrumental role in Pep Guardiola’s team’s unparalleled success. As De Bruyne prepares to bid farewell to the Etihad Stadium at the end of this season, Manchester City must confront the difficult challenge of replacing a player whose skill set is virtually unmatched. His ability to orchestrate play, make pinpoint passes, score stunning goals from long range, and provide vital assists has made him one of the most influential players in English football history. However, with the team facing the inevitable transition, who could possibly step into the void left by De Bruyne?
While finding a like-for-like replacement for a player of De Bruyne’s caliber is nearly impossible, Manchester City can still target players who embody some of the Belgian’s qualities. From young, dynamic talents to more established stars, there are a number of players across Europe who could help the club continue its success. Below are four potential replacements for Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City.
One of the most exciting young talents in European football, Florian Wirtz has emerged as a potential successor to De Bruyne’s throne at Manchester City. At just 21 years old, Wirtz has already established himself as one of the brightest stars in the Bundesliga. After an ACL injury threatened to derail his career early on, Wirtz has returned with a vengeance and is now regarded as one of the most talented attacking midfielders in Europe.
Wirtz’s performances for Bayer Leverkusen have been exceptional, and he has played a key role in their resurgence under Xabi Alonso. Last season, Wirtz contributed 18 goals and 19 assists in all competitions, proving that he can be both a creator and a scorer — two attributes that De Bruyne excelled at. His technical ability, vision, and intelligence on the ball make him a formidable presence in the attacking midfield role, and his capacity to glide past defenders with ease is a trait that mirrors De Bruyne’s style of play.
While Wirtz is not an identical replacement for De Bruyne — his style of play is perhaps slightly more direct — he shares many of the same qualities, such as excellent distribution, a knack for picking out key passes, and an ability to contribute to goals. His age also makes him an ideal candidate for the long-term, as he would have plenty of time to develop under Guardiola’s tutelage. The downside to signing Wirtz, however, is his astronomical price tag, which is likely to exceed £100 million. Despite this, Wirtz’s potential makes him an exciting prospect for the future.
Another young player with the potential to replace Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City is Xavi Simons. The 21-year-old Dutch midfielder has made significant strides in his development since leaving Paris Saint-Germain for RB Leipzig during the winter transfer window. Simons had previously made waves with PSG’s youth teams, but his move to Leipzig has allowed him to showcase his talents on a bigger stage.
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Simons has already amassed an impressive number of goal contributions for Leipzig, with 23 goal involvements last season. His creativity and flair on the ball make him an exciting player to watch, and his ability to drift between the lines and link play is reminiscent of De Bruyne’s role at City. While Simons is still developing, his versatility — capable of playing in a central role or out wide — gives him the flexibility to slot into Guardiola’s system.
The Dutchman’s ability to glide effortlessly across the pitch, combined with his skillful dribbling and eye for a pass, mirrors De Bruyne’s playing style. Simons has shown an innate ability to unlock defenses with his creativity, and his movement off the ball would fit well into City’s possession-based style of play. What makes Simons particularly intriguing is his relatively affordable price tag, which is expected to be around £60 million. This makes him a more budget-friendly option compared to other top midfielders, while still offering enormous potential.
While Morgan Rogers may not seem like an obvious choice for a direct replacement for De Bruyne, his rise at Aston Villa under Unai Emery has been remarkable, and his versatility in the attacking midfield role makes him an intriguing option. Rogers, who spent several years in Manchester City’s academy before moving on to other clubs, has developed into a standout performer at Villa. The 22-year-old has impressed with his creativity, technical skill, and ability to contribute to goals and assists.
Rogers is a different type of player compared to De Bruyne, as he tends to operate more as a wide forward or attacking midfielder, with a strong emphasis on dribbling and creating chances from the flanks. However, his ability to play centrally and his growing influence in the final third make him an exciting prospect for City. Under Emery’s tutelage, Rogers has blossomed into a more well-rounded player, and he has even earned his first caps for England, further solidifying his potential.
Rogers’s journey to success at Villa began after a loan move to Middlesbrough, where his performances caught the attention of the club. Villa paid £15 million for Rogers in January 2024, and he has exceeded expectations since arriving at Villa Park. While he is not a direct replacement for De Bruyne in terms of style, Rogers offers something different: pace, creativity, and the ability to play across a variety of attacking positions. His work rate, combined with his technical ability, makes him a dynamic player who could fit well into Manchester City’s high-octane style of play
Morgan Gibbs-White has enjoyed a stellar season at Nottingham Forest, and his performances have earned him recognition as a potential candidate to replace Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City. The 25-year-old Englishman has been a key figure in Forest’s unexpected push for a Champions League spot and has played a crucial role in their campaign, contributing both goals and assists.
Gibbs-White has demonstrated an ability to operate as an attacking midfielder but also offers the versatility to drop deeper and contribute to defensive phases when needed. His intelligence in picking out key passes and finding pockets of space is a trait that stands out in his game, and his creativity has been a driving force behind Forest’s attacking play. Although Gibbs-White’s goal tally is not as high as some of the other players on this list, his ability to unlock defenses with his vision and passing ability is reminiscent of De Bruyne’s playmaking qualities.
One of the key advantages of Gibbs-White is his familiarity with the Premier League, having played with both Wolves and Nottingham Forest. He is also relatively affordable compared to some of the other players on this list, with his market value hovering around £40 million. Gibbs-White’s performances this season have shown that he is capable of thriving in a top-flight team, and under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, he could develop into a world-class playmaker.
Replacing Kevin De Bruyne is an unenviable task, and Manchester City will need to be strategic in their pursuit of a successor. While no player can fully replicate De Bruyne’s brilliance, there are several exciting talents who possess the skills and potential to continue the club’s success. Whether it’s the creative vision of Florian Wirtz, the flair of Xavi Simons, the versatility of Morgan Rogers, or the intelligence of Morgan Gibbs-White, Manchester City has a variety of options to choose from. As the club moves into a new era without their talismanic Belgian, the future remains bright with these emerging talents ready to take on the mantle.
