UK Media: De Bruyne Has Not Reached an Agreement with Al Ittihad Jeddah; Club Unwilling to Pay £100m Transfer Fee

According to UK media outlet Talksport, Kevin De Bruyne will not be transferring to a Saudi Arabian club this summer.

The media outlet reports that De Bruyne has not yet reached an agreement with Al Ittihad Jeddah, and the deal currently appears unlikely. While there have been reports that De Bruyne had agreed on personal terms, there are no indications that the deal will ultimately be completed.

The media also points out that De Bruyne is a target for Saudi clubs, but Manchester City is seeking a transfer fee of £100 million. De Bruyne’s contract with Manchester City expires next summer, and the Saudi club has indicated that if necessary, they are willing to wait until next summer when De Bruyne can join as a free agent.

Previously, UK newspaper The Daily Mail reported that De Bruyne had agreed on personal terms with Al Ittihad Jeddah and was set to join the club.

Since joining Manchester City in 2015, De Bruyne has achieved all honors, including Premier League titles, FA Cup victories, League Cups, Champions League titles, as well as being named the Premier League’s top assist provider and Player of the Year. Coincidentally, his mentor Pep Guardiola’s contract with Manchester City also expires next summer.

Moreover, De Bruyne previously hinted at a possible move to Saudi Arabia during interviews. Recently, he told Belgian media: “If someone offers me astronomical wages, I would accept it for my family.” This suggests that he might move to Saudi Arabia for financial reasons.

However, it won’t happen this summer. Noted journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed that Al Ittihad Jeddah denied reaching an agreement with De Bruyne. Instead, the club is searching for a new goalkeeper and hopes to sign Ederson from Manchester City, although this would be challenging. De Bruyne and Ederson have served Manchester City for nine and seven years respectively, playing key roles under Pep Guardiola’s management.