Kevin De Bruyne has completed his move to Napoli on a free transfer after leaving Manchester City. The midfielder, who turns 34 this month, joins the Serie A champions three days after scoring a late winner for Belgium against Wales.
De Bruyne was greeted by excited fans chanting “Kevin” when he arrived for his medical and Napoli’s social media posts announcing the deal included one showing him on a throne wearing a crowd, with a Napoli shield by his right hand and a sword to his left. “King Kev is here,” the club wrote.
De Bruyne made more than 400 appearances for City after joining from Wolfsburg in 2015 and the Premier League club’s preparations for a future without him have continued with an agreement to sign Rosenborg’s midfielder Sverre Nypan for €14.6m (£12.4m). If the 18-year-old joins he is likely to be loaned out.
Although personal terms are yet to be agreed with the Norway under-21 international on a proposed five-year contract, City are confident of sealing the transfer. Nypan became Rosenborg’s youngest player at 15 years and 322 days when starting for Norway’s 22-times record champions against Jerv on 6 November 2022.
Nypan is in line to become City’s fifth summer signing as Pep Guardiola revamps his squad. City have spent £100m-plus in the window after Tijjani Reijnders’ acquisition on Wednesday, the Netherlands midfielder arriving from Milan for €55m, joining Rayan Aït-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli and Rayan Cherki.
Brighton are poised to complete the signing of the 18-year-old striker Charalampos Kostoulas from Olympiakos for an initial £30m and are hoping to wrap up a deal for Verona’s defender Diego Coppola.
Kostoulas, who turned 18 at the end of May and scored seven goals in 35 appearances this past season after coming through the academy, had a medical on Thursday and is expected to sign a five-year deal. The fee would be the largest received by a Greek club. Arsenal and Manchester United are among the other English clubs to have shown interest.
Kostoulas is expected to join Fabian Hürzeler’s first team squad for pre-season and will compete with the veteran Danny Welbeck and João Pedro, who has been linked with a move to Newcastle but would cost about £70m. Arsenal and Chelsea are also understood to have shown an interest in the Brazilian. Evan Ferguson could be allowed to leave permanently after his loan at West Ham. Everton are among those thought to be interested in the Republic of Ireland striker.
Brighton are also poised to announce they have signed the French defender Olivier Boscagli on a free transfer from PSV and remain in talks over a move for Coppola, who is taking part in the European Under-21 Championship with Italy in Slovakia. Brighton are optimistic over agreeing a fee of £8.5m.
Bayern Munich have yet to firm up their interest in Kaoru Mitoma. The Japan forward is about to enter the final two years of his Brighton contract and is potentially available for about £70m.
