June 26, (THEWILL) – Manchester City’s midfielder, Ilkay Gundogan, has officially confirmed his departure from the club to join Barcelona on a free transfer.
The treble-winning captain declined the opportunity to extend his stay at City and is expected to sign with Barcelona until 2025, following the expiration of his current contract. Gundogan, who was signed by manager Pep Guardiola in July 2016, bid farewell in style by clinching the UEFA Champions League title earlier this month in his final appearance after playing 304 matches for the club.
Manchester City’s Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, praised Gundogan’s significant contributions at the Etihad, saying: “Ilkay has been a wonderful servant for Manchester City, and he leaves our club on a very special high having captained us to a historic treble. He has played a huge part in the successes we have enjoyed in recent seasons and Ilkay’s intelligence, leadership and commitment to the club – both on and off the field – has been an inspiration to everyone.” Begiristain thanked him for these achievements and wished him well in his future endeavours.
During his seven-year tenure at City, Gundogan achieved numerous accolades, including five English Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, and the UCL. The midfielder, also a former Germany international, expressed his appreciation for his time at the club, particularly under the guidance of Pep Guardiola.
He thanked Guardiola, teammates, and fans and added: “I have been lucky to have experienced so many unforgettable moments in my time here and to have been captain for this extra-special season has been the greatest experience of my career.”
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
