OFFICIAL: Ilkay Gundogan re-joins Man City from Barcelona

Tom Weber

• 23 Aug 2024 11:02 BST
• 3 min read

Breaking

Manchester City have officially completed the transfer of Ilkay Gundogan.

The club legend is back. Former Man City captain Gundogan has returned to the side where he enjoyed the biggest success of his career after just one season away.

The German, who recently retired from international duty, has rejoined the Cityzens on a one-year deal with the option for a further season. Crucially, Man City did not even have to pay a transfer fee for the 33-year-old such was Barcelona's desperation to get him off the books.

READ MORE: Latest Man City transfer news

Once Pep Guardiola learned of Gundogan's availability, he called him immediately to convince him to snub lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia and Qatar and instead to return to the Etihad.

The Spanish tactician managed to achieve just that, with the treble-winning captain now set to suit up for Man City for at least one more season.

Gundogan returns to Man City

Gundogan returning to Man City is seen as a real coup for the club. Not only did they manage to get him on a very affordable deal but he also fills not one but two potential problem areas.

Man City were in the market for a replacement for Julian Alvarez, who has joined Atletico Madrid for a club-record €95 million, and a midfielder. In Gundogan, they have re-signed a player who can do both, play as an attacker and in a more withdrawn role.

READ MORE: Latest Barcelona transfer news

The Cityzens have thus massively benefited from Barcelona's dire financial situation. The Blaugrana desperately had to shift players to comply with LaLiga's Financial Fair Play regulations and essentially told Gundogan that he had to leave.

The 33-year-old agreed to cut his stint in Catalunya short - despite still being under contract for two more years - and Barcelona allowed him to leave the club on a free transfer.

The Catalans signed Man City target Dani Olmo for a whopping €62m earlier this summer but have struggled to register him, hence the need to free up salary space.