Playing in his penultimate home game before he leaves the club as a free agent, De Bruyne scored what could be his final goal at Etihad Stadium in the 35th minute.

The 33-year-old side-footed past Jose Sa after running on to Jeremy Doku's cutback, moments after Andre had naively conceded possession for Wolves.

De Bruyne suggested his Manchester City team-mates do not want him to leave the club after the game.

"I try to play as much good football as I can," he said. "I know that I only have one home game left, but I just try to do my job and that's what I did today.

"A lot of team-mates have said that it's sad I have to go too, but that's just how it sometimes goes in life.

"I don't know what the future will be, but I know that I can still play here.

"I am still enjoying it, and we still have a job to do. It was a hard game today, but we found a way to win. Now we can just relax a bit and see what the other teams do."

De Bruyne netted in the 35th minute as City earned a fourth straight Premier League win and tightened its grip on a UEFA Champions League qualification spot.

City faces Southampton, Bournemouth and Fulham in its final three league games of 2024-2025, while it will take on Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on 18 May (AEST).

"It has been a tough year, but we are finding a bit of a groove," De Bruyne said. "We are winning the games that we need to, so let's hope we can end the season like that."

De Bruyne's goal came against the run of play as Vitor Pereira's revitalised visitors gave a good account of themselves, missing two glorious chances at 0-0.

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde overhit a simple pass to Marshall Munetsi, who was waiting for a tap-in, while Rayan Ait-Nouri hit the base of the post then saw his follow-up scrambled off the line by Josko Gvardiol.

Wolves hit the post for a second time after the interval, with Matheus Cunha almost catching Ederson out with a quickly taken effort from the edge of the area.

But Wolves' threat faded as the second half went on and they stay 13th in the table after their first defeat since February.

City, meanwhile, sits two points clear of Newcastle United, four ahead of Chelsea and Nottingham Forest and seven above Aston Villa, with its rivals in the race for UEFA Champions League qualification all in action later in the matchday.