Is Kevin De Bruyne worth the massive price tag?

Will De Bruyne prosper for the Blue side of Manchester?

Manchester City have laid down an irrefutable bid of a whopping £54 million for 24-year-old midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and captured his signing to bolster their already strong midfield. The fee is only £1.7 million short of the UK record fee Manchester United paid for Ángel Di María, one of the best wingers in the world, possibly the best at the time.

De Bruyne started his professional career at Belgian side Genk. He made his debut at the age of 18. The Belgian went on to make 111 appearances for Genk, scoring 17 and setting up 36. On the last day of the January transfer window, in the 2011/12 season, Chelsea snapped up the youngster for £7 million. Chelsea loaned him back to Genk for the remainder of the season.

Speaking to the Chelsea website, upon his arrival, Kevin said:

“To come to a team like Chelsea is a dream but now I have to work hard to achieve the level that’s necessary.”

The following season (2012/13), Chelsea loaned him out to Werder Bremen for the season. Over his term away, he played 34 games for the German side. He set up 10 goals and scored 10 for himself. The midfielder was given his first chance in English football when Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford bridge in 2013. The manager was keen to give the current players a chance to impress him during the pre-season, which included De BruyneT

De Bruyne largely influential behind Wolfsburg finishing 2nd last season

At the start of the 2013/14 Premier League season, De Bruyne played in 3 of the first 5 games, 2 of which he started in. He wasn’t used in Chelsea’s Premier League games after that but did make 3 late substitute appearances in the Champions League group stage. In the month of January that season, rumours began flying that he would go to play his football in Germany as he was not able to get regular football in England. Chelsea star, and fellow countryman Eden Hazard stated:

“I think for him that leaving and playing, that would be good.”

“If we want to get the best out of Kevin, I think that it’s best if he leaves.”

VfL Wolfsburg sealed the versatile midfielder £ 18 million and used him in 18 of their remaining games that season. During this time he scored 3 and set up 7.

Last season was his big season. He scored 16 goals and set up 28 in 51 games and was named Footballer of the year in Germany. De Bruyne’s points lifted Wolfsburg to 2nd in the Bundesliga. Their highest finish since they won the league in 2009.

He has also impressed on the international stage. In particular, during last year's World Cup. The then 23-year-old played the full game in 4 of Belgium’s 5 matches. In the last 16 knockout game against the USA, Kevin scored and set up the winner in extra time.

The Belgian mostly to replace Jesus Navas

£58 million is obviously a lot of money, even in football terms and it can be debated if Kevin De Bruyne is worth it. It’s the fee required to take him away from Wolfsburg but, in terms of how he will perform for Manchester City, and how many games he’ll actually play, the fee may be excessive.

The 24-year-old won’t be able to replace Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, David Silva or new £44 million signing Raheem Sterling. In the starting line up, he could only really have a chance of replacing Jesús Navas, who has played very well this season and gives very good balance to City’s attack.

Manuel Pellegrini may be thinking long term, about phasing in the Belgian for Yaya Touré, who turns 33 this year. The big Ivorian midfielder showed signs of slowing down last season but has started this term very well, as have the rest of the City team.

De Bruyne is very talented and will be a great help to Manchester City’s title push, but he’s not worth £54 million. If it wasn’t City, with all their money, trying to bring him in, the fee wouldn’t be as high. The fee would most likely scare off other big Premier League spenders like Chelsea or Manchester United.