Premier League: İlkay Gündoğan Returns to Manchester City

Ilkay Gündoğan has officially rejoined Manchester City after a brief stint with Barcelona, following his departure from the Spanish club on Friday, August 23. Gündoğan, who recently retired from international football, had moved to Barcelona in 2023 after a successful seven-year tenure at Manchester City. His return to the Etihad Stadium comes on a free transfer, with the midfielder signing a one-year contract with the Premier League champions.

Reflecting on his return, Gündoğan expressed his joy at coming back to Manchester City, saying, “My seven years at Manchester City were filled with happiness, both on and off the field. I grew as a person and as a player, built a special bond with the City fans, and enjoyed incredible success. It was a truly remarkable chapter in my life.

“Having the chance to return here means a great deal to me. Everyone is aware of the high regard I have for Pep Guardiola—he’s the best manager in the world, and working with him daily makes you a better player. The constant challenge is what every professional craves, and I’m eager to work with him again,” Gündoğan added.

Gündoğan originally joined Manchester City in 2016 from Borussia Dortmund and was a key part of the team until the 2023 Champions League final victory over Inter Milan, which marked his last appearance for the club before his move to Barcelona.

His time at Barcelona was short-lived, despite the arrival of coach Hansi Flick, with whom Gündoğan had previously worked in the Germany national team. One of the factors behind Gündoğan’s departure from Barcelona was the signing of Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig. Due to financial fair play constraints, Barcelona was unable to register new players without first offloading someone, leading to Gündoğan’s return to Manchester City.