Ilkay Gundogan has made a surprise return to Manchester City, leaving Barcelona on a free transfer just one season after leaving the Etihad Stadium.
The German international has signed a one-year contract with the Cityzens, with the option to extend his stay for a further year.
Gundogan has revealed he has rekindled his appreciation for Manchester City during his year-long absence from Barcelona after re-signing for the Premier League champions.
“When you leave this place, you spend a year there and you start to appreciate it even more,” Gundogan said. “You realise what you had, how great the time was and how big the club is.
“The best club in the world and I think in terms of football – to get back to that level and come back a year later is an incredible feeling. I’m very happy, very fortunate and I feel privileged to share the dressing room again with these great players.
Ilkay Gundogan has completed his return to Man City, leaving Barcelona on a free transfer
The German midfielder captained City during their remarkable Treble season in 2022-23
Last summer he signed a two-year contract with Barcelona, making 51 appearances for the club.
“The package you get here, you can’t find anywhere else right now and that made it very easy for me to come back.”
Barcelona had made it clear that star players needed to find new clubs and City quickly moved to sign the central midfielder.
Gundogan has remained in contact with Pep Guardiola and the City players since his departure and met them again last month ahead of a friendly in Orlando.
“That opportunity to meet each other was amazing,” he added. “At that time, it wasn’t even a topic of coming back and rejoining. Everything has happened quite quickly in the last few days, so I didn’t think about it at the time. Maybe that made it even more special and satisfying for me.
‘I have friends in Manchester – a lot of people have messaged me over the last few days asking if the rumours were true. There are a lot of people in Manchester that I know and I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone again.
‘We’re going to have coffee in the city centre. I live in the city centre too, so it’s pretty easy to go out and have coffee, which is something we like to do as a family. I hope the weather is good enough so we can do that, not too rainy!
Guardiola visited Tast Restaurant, which he owns, and toasted the Gundogan deal with £500 worth of wine
Gundogan’s wife Sara previously admitted to Mail Sport that she missed Manchester
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“I arrived in my old new apartment; I’ve kept it all year. It felt like home right away. It’s a joy.”
The 33-year-old also thanked Barcelona fans on Friday via X (formerly Twitter).
‘Dear Culers,’ he wrote. ‘After just one year, it’s already time to say goodbye. I came here to take on a new, exciting challenge, and I was ready for it. I gave everything to fight as best I could for the team and the club in a difficult season and I was looking forward to helping my teammates in the new campaign.
‘I am leaving now in a difficult situation, but if my departure can help the club financially, that makes me a little less sad.
‘Still, it has been a time of incredible experiences and ups and downs – I have always wanted to play at Barça and I am very grateful for a memory and experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. I wish you all the best for the season and for the future. The fans deserve to make this great club the best in the world again. Visca el Barça!’
Gundogan flew to Manchester on Wednesday and spoke to Guardiola during a 50-minute meeting at Tast Catala restaurant, an establishment owned by the city manager.
Over dinner, the pair discussed the 33-year-old’s return to City, alongside chief executive Ferran Soriano, who helped fans take photos with the club legend.
He made history as Manchester City captain during their historic Treble-winning run in 2022-23, before deciding to start a new chapter in Spain with LaLiga giants Barcelona.
Gundogan signed a two-year contract with Barcelona last summer, in which he played 51 games and scored five goals.
Barcelona’s ongoing financial problems have prevented the club from signing new summer signing Dani Olmo following his departure from Red Bull Leipzig.
The Catalan club are unable to register Olmo after Gundogan’s departure, but the veteran’s return to the Etihad will ease financial concerns.
Guardiola will no doubt be delighted to have Gundogan back in his squad, as the German was his first ever signing at the Etihad in 2016.
The 33-year-old star will be reunited in midfield with the likes of Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva and will team up for the first time with Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes, both of whom joined the champions last summer as replacements for the Germany international in the engine room.
City are on course for an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title this season, but expect Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and Arne Slot’s new Liverpool team to challenge them.
Gundogan (right) will now reunite with Pep Guardiola (left) at City, after just a year away from the club
Gundogan won a string of trophies with City, including the Champions League, five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups, before moving to LaLiga.
He is City’s second signing of the summer, following the arrival of Savinho from Troyes for a transfer fee of £21million.