German midfielder and former captain of Manchester City, Ilkay Gundogan, 32, will be leaving City for Barcelona on a free transfer. He has also signed a two-year contract with his new club. According to the La Liga club, the contract will expire in June 2025, but with an option for a year’s extension.
The Spanish club also announced that they had included a €400 million ($436 million) buyout clause in the contract. He will be leaving Man City, having scored 60 goals in addition to 40 assists in 300 appearances. As captain, Gundogan was instrumental to the club winning 14 trophies, including five league titles.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Fans Decide Who They Want Off Manchester City This Summer
He also captained the club to its Champions League treble victory last season as well as the FA Cup and Premier League. Gundogan will be leaving the English club after seven years of playing in Pep Guardiola’s squad.
The German midfielder said in a statement: “For me it has been a total privilege and pleasure to be part of Manchester City for the last seven years. Manchester has been my home and I have felt part of a very special family at City.
“I have been lucky to have experienced so many unforgettable moments in my time here and to have been captain for this extra special season has been the greatest experience of my career.”
After Pep Guardiola took over Man City in 2016, Ilkay Gundogan was his first recruit to the club. At the time, the 32-year-old midfielder was being sidelined due to a knee injury when he was signed from Borussia Dortmund – where he won the German Cup and Bundesliga in 2012. He proved himself at City especially in his last two seasons when he scored key goals that helped the club win several trophies.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Kevin De Bryune Not To Participate At The Start Of The New Season
The director of football at Manchester City, Txiki Begiristain, described Gundogan as “an inspiration to everyone”. “Ilkay has truly cemented his place in the history of Manchester City and we all wish him well in the next chapter of his career,” Txiki added.
After midfielder Sergio Busquets – who had played in Barcelona for 18 years – left at the end of the season, the Spanish club’s Coach Xavi will find Gundogan’s wealth of experience quite invaluable. Barcelona won the La Liga title last season but could not emerge from the group stage in the Champions League and were subsequently knocked out in the semifinals of Copa del Rey.
Gündoğan has a message for you, culers 🤳 pic.twitter.com/yoajjeqbMU
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) June 26, 2023
 buyout clause in the contract.){kind=link}