Manchester City has reached a “full agreement” to re-sign Ilkay Gundogan from Barcelona, with the experienced midfielder making a significant financial sacrifice to facilitate his return to the Premier League.
Gundogan will be returning to the Etihad Stadium just one year after leaving the club. According to reports from The Athletic, the 33-year-old is set to sign a one-year contract with the option for an additional year. In a remarkable move, he has agreed to forgo the remaining two years of his salary from Barcelona to make this transfer happen.
Last season, Gundogan made over 50 appearances for Barcelona and was included in the La Liga Team of the Season. However, following a coaching change at Camp Nou, he was informed that he was not part of Hansi Flick’s plans moving forward. After discussions with Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager, Gundogan’s return was approved.
Gundogan was Pep Guardiola’s first signing when he arrived at City in 2016, and during his initial tenure, he made 188 appearances, winning five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and the Champions League.
Despite a quiet summer in the transfer market, with Gundogan being only the second senior signing alongside Brazilian international Savinho, City demonstrated their strength with a 2-0 victory over Chelsea. They will face Ipswich Town at home on Saturday as they aim for their fifth consecutive Premier League title.
