Manchester City reach agreement with Ilkay Gundogan on free transfer from Barcelona

Manchester City and Ilkay Gundogan have reached a full agreement over the German’s contract renewal with the Premier League club.

Gundogan, 33, will sign a one-year contract with Manchester City, with an option to extend for another 12 months. He will leave Barcelona on a free transfer, just one year after joining the team following the expiration of his contract with Manchester City in June 2023.

To facilitate this move, Gundogan waived the remaining salary of his two-year contract with Barcelona. His contract began the third year of last season when he participated in more than 60% of the team’s matches.

Gundogan joined Barcelona last summer, making 36 appearances in his first season, but has been told he is not part of new coach Hansi Flick’s plans after the German replaced Xavi earlier this summer. The athlete Manchester City are reportedly the frontrunners to secure Gundogan’s return on Tuesday, with the midfielder having spoken to Pep Guardiola about a potential return to Manchester and the manager giving the green light for the move.

Gundogan made 188 appearances in his first spell with Manchester City, winning the Premier League five times, the FA Cup twice and the Champions League once.

Manchester City had a quiet summer with Brazilian international Savinho the only first-team signing after Julian Alvarez left for Atletico Madrid.

They beat Chelsea in their opening Premier League match of the new season and next face newcomers Ipswich Town on Saturday.

Gundogan announced his retirement from international football with Germany earlier this week, after captaining them at the European Championships on home soil earlier in the summer.

(Sean Botterill/Getty Images)