Chicago Fire make shock move for Kevin De Bruyne

Major League Soccer (MLS) club Chicago Fire have approached Manchester City captain Kevin De Bruyne about signing him on a free transfer this summer (h/t journalist Fabrizio Romano).

The MLS outfit has launched a serious attempt to land the Belgian playmaker with a detailed project to entice him to the United States.

De Bruyne announced he will leave City at the end of the season after a decade of dominance. He is now weighing up his options.

Inter Miami still retain the discovery rights to De Bruyne – an MLS rule that gives them the right of first refusal if he chooses to move Stateside.

San Diego FC reportedly passed on those rights, claiming he does not align with their club identity.

Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, made global headlines by signing Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez.

The potential addition of De Bruyne to the league would further cement MLS’s growing global appeal.

De Bruyne will leave Man City as a club legend, having won 16 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League.

He joined the club from Wolfsburg in 2015 after an earlier stint at Chelsea.

With his departure confirmed, City are already planning for life without their midfield maestro. Phil Foden is expected to take on more creative duties, but the club is also eyeing external replacements.

Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz have emerged as key targets.

For now, all eyes are on MLS, where Chicago’s move for De Bruyne could spark a bidding war for one of football’s most influential midfielders of the modern era.