De Bruyne reveals City contract talks have not yet resumed

Kevin De Bruyne has revealed that talks over a possible contract extension with Manchester City have not yet resumed, meaning the midfielder will be able to discuss a summer move to a foreign club in January.

The 33-year-old’s season has been halted by injury and the Belgian said last month he had put contract talks on hold while he focused on recovery during a two-month spell on the sidelines.

De Bruyne’s current deal at the Etihad runs until next summer and he will be allowed to hold talks with clubs outside England from January 1.

Precise accuracy from @KevinDeBruyne 👌 pic.twitter.com/FZNBnZDwLv

— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 30, 2024

After City’s much-needed Premier League victory over Leicester City on Sunday, just their second win in 14 games in all competitions, he said there was no update on his future.

“No. Nothing yet,” he told The Independent.

While the uncertainty over De Bruyne’s future will worry City fans, he is not the only Premier League star whose contract expires in June.

Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all set to leave Liverpool in the summer unless deals can be agreed.

But despite the rumors off the pitch, Arne Slot’s side have been brilliant. They have lost just once this season in all competitions and sit top of the Premier League going into the New Year.

Back to work 💪 pic.twitter.com/HWRTJ92dBQ

— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 30, 2024

City, meanwhile, have endured mixed fortunes this season. And De Bruyne admits that the team’s poor run of results has taken its toll on both the squad and manager Pep Guardiola.

“I think he was obviously a bit lower than usual, but I don’t think there’s a lot of difference,” De Bruyne said.

“You can’t change after a bad moment. We’ve had so many good moments, we know how to win games. But at the moment we haven’t won, it happens and you have to accept that other people are also good and maybe they’re in a better moment .

“You have to do your job, that’s what we’re trying to do, and hopefully it gets better.”

City are next in action on January 4 when they host West Ham, who will be looking to bounce back from a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool on Sunday.