Making a then club record move in 2015 from Wolfsburg, Kevin De Bruyne not only became a sensation for Manchester City, but turned into a Premier League legend after 10 trophy-laden seasons in England. Outcast at Chelsea but turning heads in the Bundesliga, the Belgium international found home at City after returning to the Premier League and there was no looking back thereafter. De Bruyne’s technique, dribbling, passing skill, athleticism, vision, crossing, thundering strikes and on top of it, a jaw-dropping amount of assist-providing qualities made him mesmerising to watch for City fans and neutrals worldwide. The ace contributed to 278 goals in 422 appearances with 108 strikes and 170 assists for Manchester City to make him one of the best creative players around. However, the player with such monumental success and who played a significant role in establishing the club’s legacy under Pep Guardiola will play the latter stages of his career somewhere else, in Italy with Napoli, after the expiration of his contract in the summer of 2025.
Here are the records Kevin De Bruyne set at Manchester City, which displayed his class and the impact he had:
Most Assists in Premier League History for Manchester City
Kevin De Bruyne was a specialist in setting up goals, which is reflected by the Belgian being the leading assist provider for Manchester City. He provided 117 assists, topping the all-time list for his club and is the second-most assist provider in Premier League history, 45 assists less than Ryan Giggs in fewer games played than the Manchester United legend, having also provided one assist with Chelsea previously. He is the leading assist maker in Europe’s top five leagues since 2015.
Best Minutes-Per-Assist Ratio in Premier League History
The playmaker, though, holds the best minutes-per-assist ratio in Premier League history among players with 50+ appearances in the competition. His 177 minutes per assist ratio betters the likes of Mesut Ozil, Cesc Fabregas, Vladimir Smicer, Ryan Giggs and even Dennis Bergkamp, who has the next best ratio in the league.
Joint-Most Assists in a Single Premier League Season
De Bruyne recorded 20 assists in the 2019-20 Premier League season, tying Thierry Henry’s record for the most assists in a single campaign. He became the first player in history to reach 20 assists in a single season in two of Europe's top five leagues, having done so with Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in 2014-15.
Most Chances Created in the Premier League Since 2015
Not only with assists, De Bruyne was also a master at creating a vast number of chances to help Manchester City maintain dominance in games and throughout a season. Since joining the club in 2015, the midfielder has created 827 chances in the Premier League, at least 294 more than the next closest player, Christian Eriksen, with 532. However, the Dane has played for three Premier League clubs to register that tally, whereas De Bruyne has done it for one club joining the league later than him.
First Manchester City Player to Win PFA Players’ Player of the Year
After a glorious 2019-20 season, where De Bruyne recorded the joint-most assist tally in a single campaign and won the league, he was named the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Men’s Player of the Year. In doing so, the now 34-year-old became the first Manchester City player in the club’s history to win the award. He won it again in 2021-22, making him a two-time winner.
Record-Equalling Club Player of the Year Awards
Naturally, being one of the best players in Manchester City’s history, the Belgium international has received a lot of awards from his club. De Bruyne has received the honour of winning Manchester City’s Player of the Year award four times, tying his record for the most individual seasonal awards for the club with Richard Dunne. It demonstrates the significant impact the player had in shaping the club into what it is today.
Twice PL player of the season
Notably, De Bruyne was voted the Premier League Player of the Season award twice after winning the 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons, becoming only the fourth player to win the award more than once. For his 16 assists registered across the 2017/18 league season, De Bruyne won the inaugural Premier League Playmaker of the Season award.
Most Titles Won by a Manchester City Player
Spending 10 years in England, De Bruyne holds the record for the most titles won by any Manchester City player, with a total of 19 major honours to his name. Among the trophies he won, the Premier League was the most collected, with six titles, including four in a row from 2020-21 to the 2023-24 season. The next is the Carabao Cup, with five, the Community Shield thrice and twice the FA Cup, capturing all possible domestic honours. Despite getting injured and being substituted inside 36 minutes in the 2022-23 Champions League final at Istanbul, the Belgian also added the continental crown to his list of accolades. In 2023, De Bruyne also won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, making him one of the few players to achieve this in a single year.
