The announcement came at a joint press conference alongside club president Aurelio De Laurentiis following Napoli's 1-0 victory over Udinese on the final day of the Serie A season. Conte made clear the decision was his own, taken several weeks ago.
"It's been an honour, really special to coach Napoli. It's been two great seasons, an exceptional experience," he told Italian media. "It was my decision. I told the chairman a few weeks ago. Napoli will always be home."
The 56-year-old had looked set to leave last summer before De Laurentiis convinced him to remain after a series of talks. Napoli invested heavily in the squad, signing Kevin De Bruyne and Rasmus Højlund among others, but injuries and the demands of Champions League football ultimately undermined their title defence.
Napoli failed to progress beyond the Champions League group stage — a competition in which Conte has historically struggled — and the gap to Inter reflected a season that never consistently matched expectations.
When asked about a potential move into international management and whether he could fill the void as Italy head coach, Conte deflected with characteristic directness.
"My advice would be to hire Pep Guardiola."
Conte joined Napoli in June 2024 following a spell at Tottenham Hotspur and guided the club to their fifth Serie A title in his first season. He leaves with his contract still having one year to run. There is no agreement in place regarding compensation, and discussions are ongoing.
Italy are without a manager ahead of the Nations League final in the autumn, with the FIGC presidential election on 22 June expected to shape the process of finding a successor to Rino Gattuso.
Conte will now be among the most sought-after coaches in Europe. He will not be short of options.