Kevin De Bruyne Pushes for Napoli to Sign Jack Grealish This Summer

Kevin De Bruyne is reportedly advocating for Napoli to sign his former Manchester City teammate, Jack Grealish, in the upcoming transfer window. Grealish, 29, transferred to City from Aston Villa in 2021 for a then-record £100 million fee for an English player, but has struggled to display the same level of performance he showcased at Villa.

While Grealish contributed to City’s treble-winning 2022-23 season, his influence has waned in recent months. During the 2024-25 season, he has fallen further down the pecking order, starting just seven Premier League matches and only one since the new year. This decline led to him being omitted from City’s squad for the Club World Cup earlier this month, with Pep Guardiola openly suggesting he should find a new club.

De Bruine, who recently joined Serie A champions Napoli after leaving Manchester City, has been vocal in supporting Grealish’s potential move. According to reports, Napoli coach Antonio Conte has been consulting De Bruyne regarding the winger, hoping the player’s endorsement could facilitate a transfer.

Grealish’s current contract with City runs for two more years, and the club is open to loan offers if a suitable buyer cannot be found. Among interested parties are Napoli and Everton, with the latter vying for regular game time to maintain his spot in England’s World Cup squad. Manchester City chairman Pep Guardiola emphasized that Grealish’s limited playing time last season was a managerial decision and acknowledged his talent.

If Grealish transfers to Napoli, he would join other former Premier League players thriving in Italy, including Romelu Lukaku, Billy Gilmour, Scott McTominay, and Philip Billing, who played key roles during Napoli’s Serie A triumph.