Manchester Metropolis have accomplished the signing of former captain Ilkay Gundogan from Barcelona on an preliminary one-year cope with the choice of an extra 12 months.
The German midfielder, who was Pep Guardiola’s first signing on the membership in 2016, spent seven years at Metropolis earlier than becoming a member of Barcelona on a free switch in 2023.
The 33-year-old received 14 trophies in his first spell on the Etihad, scoring 60 targets in 304 appearances.
“My seven years at Manchester Metropolis had been a time of pure contentment for me, each on and off the pitch,” mentioned Gundogan.
“Everybody is aware of the respect I’ve for Pep – he’s the very best supervisor on this planet and dealing with him on daily basis makes you a greater participant.
“Truthfully, I can not wait to put on the Metropolis shirt once more.”
Regardless of a powerful debut marketing campaign in Spain, Barcelona determined to half with Gundogan after struggling to register new signing Dani Olmo as a result of membership’s monetary points.
Gundogan was one of many membership’s highest earners and his departure on a free switch will assist Barcelona adjust to La Liga spending restrictions.
“I’m leaving in a troublesome scenario, but when my departure will help the membership financially, it makes me a bit much less unhappy,” Gundogan wrote on Instagram following the announcement.
Gundogan added he had been “wanting ahead to serving to my team-mates within the new marketing campaign” however he was “grateful” to have spent 12 months on the membership.
Capped 82 occasions for Germany, Gundogan introduced his worldwide retirement following the nation’s Euro 2024 exit within the quarter-finals to Spain.