Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on what he has learned from De Bruyne: "His assists, his goals. His vision in the final-third is so difficult to replace. Every one can make actions and assists but how many years and how many games makes him unique. This is a business and players have to perform well and the manager has to perform well and any person can discuss his performance over the last decade has been outstading.

"We have won a lot of trophies and he has been involved in every single one. He is part of the club. The door is open for the rest of his life at the club. He is part of the family of this club. The impact of some players transcend even the impact that they have done on the pitch and he is one of them."

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was asked where De Bruyne ranks in terms of players he has managed and within Premier League history: "He is one of the greatest Premier League players ever and at this club, there is no doubt about that. You always have to be careful when you say greatest out of respect for the players that have played in the last 20/30 years at this club but there is no doubt he is one of the greatest for sure.

"His consistency in important games and every three games being there all the time, there is no doubt."

On whether now feels like the right time for him to leave: "It is more important that he feels good right now. Now he feels finally, after surgery on his hamstring, he feels step-by-step ready. His decision is made and for all of us, we wish to him, Michele, the kids and his mum and dad absolutely the best."

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on the news that Kevin de Bruyne will leave the club at the end of the season: "It's a sad day. What he gives all of us which is humanity and of course, I don't have to tell you his influence on our success in the last decade - it would be impossible to imagine without him.

"It's a sad day because a part of us is leaving. When Vincent Kompany left or Sergio Aguero left or David Silva - these players that have made such a big contribution - it's a sad day.

"We still have 10 games and hopefully 11, six games at home, that we can enjoy with our fans and he will get I'm pretty sure, the love and recognition that he deserves."

Thanks Adam and all those who have messaged in so far.

Now then, we've finally typed up Pep Guardiola's press conference...

In August 2015, 24-year-old Kevin de Bruyne joined Manchester City from Wolfsburg for a club record £55m.

At the time it was the second highest fee paid by an English club and then-City boss Manuel Pellegrini said "it takes a special player to improve our squad."

After signing De Bruyne said: "I want to reach the highest level possible as a player and I think the most important thing is that at the end of the season we can be happy and maybe have some titles."

Almost ten years on he'll leave the club as a treble-winner, with six Premier League titles and a hoard of other major trophies.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City

Building on our post on De Bruyne's individual accolades - not only are they impressive as a standalone - but maybe even more so when you compare with some of the greats.

• He has the joint most Premier League player of the season awards with two - alongside Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nemanja Vidic.
• Level with Henry for the most assists in a single Premier League season, producing 20 in the 2019-20 campaign.
• Most Premier League playmaker awards for the player with the most assists, with three (2017-18, 2019-20 and 2022-23).
• Second most assists in the competition’s history with 118, behind only Ryan Giggs (162).

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

One stand-out personal memory was Kevin De Bruyne's performance when Manchester City beat Real Madrid 4-0 in the Champions League semi-final second leg at Etihad Stadium in May 2023.

City's first 45 minutes, in which they established a 2-0 lead, remains one of the finest halves of football I have ever witnessed for quality of the highest level executed at a searing pace that bewildered Real Madrid.

At the heart of it all was De Bruyne, the great orchestrator of a magnificent team display.

If there is a sadness about De Bruyne's City career, it is that he was injured during both of their Champions League Final appearances, suffering a serious facial injury following a collision with Antonio Rudiger in the 1-0 loss to Chelsea in 2021, then sustaining a hamstring injury in the first of the victory against Inter Milan two years later.

Kevin de Bruyne will go down as one of Manchester City's greatest ever midfielders.

He's made 413 appearances for the club since his arrival in the summer of 2015, scoring 106 times and providing 174 assists in all competitions.

According to Opta, since his arrival at City, no player has created more chances (827), more big chances (193) or provided more assists (117) in the Premier League.

Those are all the headlines from Guardiola's news conference. We'll have his answers typed up in full very soon.

Manchester City

Guardiola admits he knew "days ago" that De Bruyne was leaving the club.

Manchester City

Guardiola says he "will bet a lot of money" that De Bruyne gets a statue at the club.

Manchester City

Guardiola says they are going to enjoy the last few months they have with De Bruyne at the club but admits it will be "emotionally tough."