Ilkay Gundogan has completed his shock return to Manchester City, leaving Barcelona on a free transfer just a season after leaving the Etihad.
The German international has signed a one-year contract with the Cityzens with the option to extend his stay for a further year.
Gundogan revealed he had discovered a new appreciation for Manchester City during his year away at Barcelona after re-signing for the Premier League champions.
“When you leave this place, you spend a year away and then you start to appreciate it even more,” Gundogan said. “You realise what you had, how amazing your experience was and how great the club is.
‘It’s the best club in the world and I think that, in football terms, being back at that level and returning a year later is an incredible feeling. I’m very pleased, very happy and I feel privileged to share a dressing room again with these incredible players.
Ilkay Gundogan has completed his return to Manchester City, leaving Barcelona on a free transfer
The German midfielder captained City during their remarkable treble-winning season in 2022-23.
He joined Barcelona on a two-year contract last summer before making 51 appearances for the club.
“The package you get here today you can’t find anywhere else and that made it very easy for me to come back.”
Barcelona had made it clear that star players had to find new clubs and City moved quickly to secure the central midfielder.
Gundogan has kept in touch with Pep Guardiola and the City players since leaving and met them again ahead of a pre-season friendly in Orlando last month.
“It was amazing to have the opportunity to meet,” she added. “Back then there was no question of us getting back together and getting back together. Everything happened so fast in the last few days, so I wasn’t thinking about it at the time. Maybe that made it even more special and rewarding for me.”
‘I have friends in Manchester. Over the last few days, a lot of people have been messaging me asking if the rumours were true. There are a lot of people in Manchester that I know and I’m looking forward to seeing them all again.
‘We’ll go for a coffee in the city centre. I live in the city centre too, so it’s quite easy to go out for a coffee, which is something we love to do as a family. I hope the weather is nice enough for us to do it, and that it doesn’t rain too much!’
Guardiola visited the Tast restaurant, which he owns, and toasted the deal with Gundogan with £500 worth of wine.
Gundogan’s wife Sara previously admitted to Mail Sport that she missed Manchester.
‘I arrived at my old new apartment, which I have kept for the whole year. I felt at home from the first moment. It’s a joy.’
The 33-year-old also took to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday to thank Barcelona fans, before claiming his departure will ease some of the financial burden on the cash-strapped LaLiga side.
“Dear Culés,” he wrote. “After a year it’s time to say goodbye. I came here to face a new and exciting challenge, and I was ready for it. I have given everything to fight for the team and the club in the best possible way in a difficult season and I was looking forward to helping my teammates in the new campaign.
‘I’m leaving in a difficult situation now, but if my departure can help the club financially, it makes me a little less sad.
‘Even so, it has been a time full of incredible experiences and ups and downs. I always wanted to play for Barça and I am very grateful for a memory and an 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 see this great club back among the best in the world. Long live Barça!’
Gundogan flew to Manchester on Wednesday and held talks with Guardiola during a 50-minute meeting at the Tast Catala restaurant, an establishment owned by the City manager.
At dinner, the pair discussed the 33-year-old’s return to City alongside chief executive Ferran Soriano, who was seen helping fans take pictures with the club legend.
He etched his name into the history books as Manchester City captain during their historic treble win in 2022-23, before opting to seek a new chapter in Spain with LaLiga giants Barcelona.
Gundogan joined Barcelona on a two-year contract last summer before making 51 appearances and scoring five goals.
As a result of Barcelona’s ongoing financial problems, the club have been unable to register new summer signing Dani Olmo following his move from Red Bull Leipzig.
The Catalans will not be able to sign Olmo alone following Gundogan’s departure, but the veteran’s return to the Etihad will help ease concerns over their finances.
Guardiola will no doubt be delighted to have Gundogan back in his squad, given that the German was his first signing at the Etihad in 2016.
The 33-year-old star will be reunited with the likes of Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva in midfield and will team up for the first time with Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes, who joined the champions last summer as replacements for the Germany international in the engine room.
City are aiming for an unprecedented fifth successive Premier League title this season, but will be looking to face Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and Arne Slot’s new-look Liverpool side.
Gundogan (right) will now reunite with Pep Guardiola (left) at City after just one year away from the club.
Gundogan won a variety of honours 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 in a £21m transfer.
