Premier League champions Manchester City have brought back former captain Ilkay Gundogan on a one-year contract with an option for an additional year. The German midfielder, who was Pep Guardiola's first signing at City in 2016, rejoins the club after a brief stint at Barcelona.
Gundogan, 33, played a pivotal role in City's success during his initial seven-year tenure, winning 14 trophies and scoring 60 goals in 304 appearances. He expressed his excitement about returning to the Etihad Stadium, praising Guardiola as "the best manager in the world."
His departure from Barcelona was due to financial constraints that prevented the club from registering new signing Dani Olmo. As one of Barcelona's highest earners, Gundogan's exit helped the club comply with LaLiga's spending limits.
While Gundogan was looking forward to contributing to Barcelona's campaign, he understood the financial necessity of his departure and expressed his gratitude for his time there.
Gundogan, a 82-time capped German international, announced his retirement from international football after Germany's Euro 2024 quarter-final defeat to Spain.