The 34-year-old midfielder suffered the setback during Napoli's 3-1 win over Inter Milan recently, pulling up immediately after scoring from the penalty spot. De Bruyne was seen clutching the back of his right thigh before being helped off the pitch in clear discomfort.
Medical scans later revealed a high-grade tear to the biceps femoris muscle in his right thigh, prompting the need for surgical treatment. Napoli released a statement confirming the procedure had taken place as planned in Antwerp.
"As planned, Kevin De Bruyne underwent surgery today in Antwerp following a high-grade injury to his right thigh biceps femoris muscle," the club said. "The operation was a complete success. De Bruyne will now begin the first phase of his rehabilitation programme in Belgium."
Napoli have not given a timeline for his return, but reports in Italy suggest he could be sidelined for several months. It is the latest in a series of hamstring issues for De Bruyne, who also required surgery in 2023 during his time at Manchester City.
Since joining Napoli in the summer of 2025 on a free transfer after leaving Manchester City, De Bruyne has been a key creative figure in midfield, helping the Serie A champions make a strong start to their title defence. His absence will be a major blow for the team as they continue their domestic campaign and Champions League push.
Manager Antonio Conte is expected to rely on Scott McTominay and Jens Cajuste to fill the gap in midfield while De Bruyne continues his recovery at home in Belgium.
Luciano Spalletti's arrival at Juventus on October 30, has brought renewed belief and direction to Turin, with the veteran coach already stamping his authority after replacing Igor Tudor.
Inter Milan reignited their Champions League charge on Wednesday night as Marcus Thuram made a long-awaited return from injury to inspire a tense 2-1 victory over Kairat Almaty at San Siro.
Napoli's attacking woes deepened as Antonio Conte's side were held to a 0–0 draw by Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League, leaving both clubs on four points after four games.
Patrick Vieira has been sacked as Genoa coach following a dismal winless start to the 2025-26 Serie A season, which has seen the club languish at the foot of the table with just three points from nine matches.
