Winners and losers of Ilkay Gundogan re-joining Man City

Muhammad Butt

Updated: 22 Aug 2024 10:57 BST
4 min read

Ilkay Gundogan with the Man City crest — © IMAGO

Ilkay Gundogan is leaving Barcelona after just one season to re-join Premier League champions Manchester City.

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Gundogan left Man City last summer after guiding them to their incredible Treble in the 2022/23 season as club captain. The German scored six goals in the final seven games of the season, including a brace in the FA Cup final, as Pep Guardiola's side made history.

He then departed on a free transfer to join his dream club of Barcelona.

However, his time in La Liga wasn't easy as injury problems wrecked the Blaugrana's attempts to defend their Spanish top flight title, and financial fair play issues expedited a premature exit from Catalunya.

Now, he's set to return to the Etihad Stadium, but who are the winners and losers from the deal?

WINNER: Dani Olmo

Dani Olmo had long been linked with a return to his boyhood club of Barcelona, and his excellent Euro 2024 proved to be just the motivation they needed to sign him. But, they couldn't register the Spaniard due to being in Financial Fair Play hell with La Liga.

Gundogan's exit, however, generates a huge amount of space with regards to FFP, largely because of his big wages. So his departure should give the Blaugrana the necessary space to register their shiny new signing in time to face Athletic Club this weekend.

Furthermore, Olmo should be a guaranteed starter in the No.10 role now that Gundogan has left.

LOSER: Mateo Kovacic

When Man City broke the 10-year streak of the Champions League winner having a Croatian in their squad, they decided to replace the departing Ilkay Gundogan with... a Croatian!

Kovacic is a four-time Champions League winner, but he failed to really fill Gundogan's shoes during his first campaign at City.

Second seasons under Pep tend to go better for signings, but Kovacic may well spend a fair chunk of the 2024-25 campaign on the City bench, watching Gundogan strut his stuff. Oh well!

WINNER: Pep Guardiola

Last season, Man City were whiskers away from retaining the Treble. They managed to sneak the Premier League title away from Arsenal, but lost an FA Cup final to Man Utd and were eliminated by a risible Real Madrid because they just couldn't score in a game they were dominating.

Two things Gundogan excels at are: dominating Man Utd and scoring crucial City goals in games where they desperately need a breakthrough. Pep's got his German lockpick back and that should make him very happy indeed!

LOSER: Eberechi Eze

The lacklustre performances of Matheus Nunes led to Man City being linked with signing Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace in an effort to bolster their midfield.

The 26 year-old England international is a ball-carrying wizard who would have brought penetration and precision to the City midfield. But now Gundogan has returned, Eze's big move is highly unlikely to materialise.

WINNER: Erling Haaland

The mighty Erling Haaland scored "just" 38 goals last season, well down from his debut total of 52. He didn't even crack 30 in the league!

Part of this was down to Gundogan's absence because the German is not only an excellent creator of chances for Haaland (which Kovacic... isn't) but he is also a bonafide presence in the attacking box, which will draw markers and create space for Haaland.

Big, big win for the Norwegian juggernaut.

LOSER: Arsenal

Arsenal have been inching their way closer to Premier League glory over the last few years. They bottled things in 2022/23 as City claimed a Treble, but rebounded well to challenge again last season as Pep's side began to show signs of weakness.

With De Bruyne ageing and Gundogan gone, the City midfield was basically Rodri or bust - especially given Foden's allergic reaction to passing to Haaland. And this was a problem because the superb Spaniard can't play EVERY game.

Surely this would be Arsenal's year?

Well, now Gundogan is back! City just picked up one of the best midfielders in the world for free and he already knows the league, team and style of play. Gundogan's return gives City a massive advantage in what is sure to be another close title race.