La Liga club FC Barcelona on Monday announced the signing of Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer.
The 32-year-old midfielder contract with Man City expired this month, making him a sought-after free agent this summer.
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The La Liga giants had been pursuing Gundogan since last season and faced competition from the likes of Arsenal, Saudi Arabia, and even Manchester City itself. However, the Catalan club managed to successfully persuade the German international to join the club.
Last week, an agreement was reached between Gundogan and Barcelona, with the club’s director, Mateu Alemany, personally traveling to Munich to finalize the deal.
Gundogan has committed to a two-year contract with Barcelona, extending until the summer of 2025. The agreement also includes an option for an additional 12 months. The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder’s contract features a release clause of €400 million.
Notably, Ilkay Gundogan played an instrumental role in Manchester City’s historic treble-winning campaign.
The German in his 7-year stint with Pep Guardiola side, won five Premier League titles, four EFL Cups, two FA Cups, and the UEFA Champions League with the club.
The 32-year-old represented City in 304 games and scored 60 goals. However, his most memorable performance will be his braces against Aston Villa in 2021/22 and Manchester United in 2022/2023 which led City to Premier League and FA Cup titles respectively.
‘Thank you, City’
Ilkay Gundogan has written an emotional farewell letter to Manchester City after his transfer to Barcelona.
The veteran midfielder lauded his teammates, staff and manager Pep Guardiola for understanding his decision not to extend contract.
“Today is bittersweet. Goodbyes are never easy, but it’s even harder with this team. When I had to break the news to the boys that I was leaving in our group chat, I was very emotional. I will miss all of them, honestly. But I am happy to say that I’m leaving here as a champion, and I have nothing but love for the club in my heart”, he wrote in a blog post on The Players Tribune.
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