Mikel hails Kevin De Bruyne as one of Premier League’s greatest amid Man City exit

By Monsurah Olatunji

Former Chelsea and Super Eagles midfielder Mikel Obi has paid glowing tribute to Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne following the Belgian’s announcement that he will leave the club at the end of the season after a decade of excellence.

De Bruyne, who has amassed 176 assists in 414 appearances for City, is widely regarded as one of the most influential midfielders in Premier League history.

The 33-year-old is expected to join MLS side Inter Miami, where he could link up with football icon Lionel Messi.

Mikel, who shared a dressing room with De Bruyne during their brief stint together at Chelsea, expressed admiration for the Belgian’s transformation into one of the game’s elite players.

Speaking on the latest episode of the ObiOne Podcast, Mikel reflected on De Bruyne’s impact:

“For him to come into a team that had Yaya Touré and Fernandinho and start performing the way he did straight away, just playing game after game, creating those assists, and scoring goals, is great. He has been fantastic for over a decade.”

He added that De Bruyne’s influence on Manchester City’s sustained success was unparalleled.

“This is the one player you can say that without Kevin De Bruyne, City maybe would have struggled to achieve what they’ve achieved. Because he was that good.”

Despite not being a Manchester City supporter, Mikel admitted he always enjoyed watching De Bruyne play, praising his intelligence, vision, and execution.

“He’s always a joy to watch. The way he touches the ball, the way he passes… he’s absolutely fantastic.”

Mikel believes De Bruyne deserves to be mentioned among the Premier League’s all-time greats:

“He’s in the conversation with Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, and Steven Gerrard. I think he’s top two or three for sure—maybe even above one or two of them.”

De Bruyne’s remarkable trophy haul includes four consecutive Premier League titles and multiple domestic and European honors.

While his contract expires at the end of the season, he may extend his stay briefly to feature in the Club World Cup before making a move.