5 MLS clubs where Kevin De Bruyne would be a good fit | OneFootball

After Kevin De Bruyne announced this week he would be leaving Manchester City at the end of the season, the rumor mill has already begun speculating about where the 33-year-old Belgian might end up next, including potentially in MLS.

Obviously, a six-time Premier League champion and former UEFA Champions League winner who still produces consistently when healthy would be of competitive benefit to any MLS team that signed him. But there are a few clubs for whom De Bruyne not only improve, but fit a position of need and/or slide into a currently vacant Designated Player roster spot.

Here's five MLS clubs where Kevin De Bruyne would make the most sense.

New York City FC

As the City Football Group club in MLS, this is the most obvious link from a club culture standpoint. And from an MLS standpoint, the league could really use a star to reassert its somewhat anonymous presence in North America's biggest sports market.

But what might be underrated is that the move would also come at a key time of need from a footballing perspective. De Bruyne would give the MLS Cityzens the ability to platoon a pair of excellent but aging midfield playmakers, rather than continuing to have to rely on the 38-year-old Maxi Moralez as the starter in the No. 10 role since Santi Rodriguez's departure.

Chicago Fire

The Fire already look to be on much stronger footing than in recent years under first-year coach Gregg Berhalter. The lone place where Chicago looks somewhat shorthanded is in central midfield, and De Bruyne would change that in a heartbeat.

According to MLS' roster compliace guide, the Fire opted for the two-DP, four U-22 slot roster model this season, but with one of those U-22 spots still open, they could shift that to a DP spot instead at any time. And while Chicago was burned by Xherdan Shaqiri, its last big star signing, the reason Shaqiri didn't work is he wasn't a consistent enough chance creator. De Bruyne will offer no such worries there.

D.C. United

The Black-and-Red have been one of the league's most anonymous clubs in the transfer market of late. But even while seeing Mateusz Klich still counted toward their Designated Player quota, they have a spot open. And the other DP? None other than De Bruyne's former international teammate, 2024 MLS Golden Boot winner Christian Benteke.

The prospect of reuniting those two familiar attackers is an enticing one. And with the cosmipolitan nature of D.C.'s population, De Bruyne's name would arguably move the needle more in the nation's capital than in a lot of other MLS markets.

San Diego FC

Reporting from GiveMeSport on Friday suggests San Diego are further from signing the Belgian star than was once thought, but that doesn't mean such a move has stopped making sense.

Manager Mikey Varas' side obviously have a strong foundation and a compelling style. But adding De Bruyne would be an enormous signal of early intent for a club that is aspiring to be the next version of Atlanta United or LAFC in terms of an expansion team that quickly becomes a "big club." And if there is a weakness of the group now, it is still in chance creation through central midfield.

Sporting Kansas City

This might feel way out of left field, but with the end of Peter Vermes' tenure early this week, there is a somewhat urgent need to display a new direction at a club that was once the model of a well-run MLS team. Plus there's an open DP spot and an obvious need for improved chance creation.

Maybe the price De Bruyne would command makes this a stretch at a club that has operated at a smaller-market profile these days. Then again, if Cristiano Ronaldo was once throught to have a realistic chance to end up at SKC, maybe ownership would be willing to pony up for a player of De Bruyne's profile.