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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Gundogan will seal City return</li><li>Not part of Barcelona's plans</li><li>German won five titles with City</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Man City reach 'full agreement' to re-sign Ilkay Gundogan from Barcelona with veteran midfielder making huge financial sacrifice to seal Premier League return

Champions League

Sporting CP

Manchester City

FK Crvena Zvezda

Barcelona

Gundogan will return to the Etihad Stadium just one year after his departure. According to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5711610/2024/08/21/manchester-city-ilkay-gundogan-barcelona/?redirected=1" target="_blank">The Athletic</a>, the 33-year-old will sign a one-year deal with City, with the option of an additional 12 months. The former Germany international will even forgo the remaining two years of his salary he would be owed by Barcelona in order to facilitate the move.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Gundogan made more than 50 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona last season, and was named in the La Liga Team of the Season. But a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/hansi-flick-officially-barcelona-new-manager-former-bayern-munich-boss-replacing-xavi-two-year-contract/blt11730b64f64f8b1d" target="_blank">change in head coach</a> at the Camp Nou has heralded a new vision, and the veteran midfielder <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/ilkay-gundogan-barcelona-open-selling-veteran-midfielder-interest-saudi-arabia-qatar/blta71c831603402231" target="_blank">was told that he wasn't part of Hansi Flick's plans</a>. Gundogan reportedly held talks with Pep Guardiola over his return and the City boss approved the transfer.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Guardiola made Gundogan his first signing as City boss in 2016, and the midfielder went on to make 188 appearances during his first spell with the club. He won the Premier League title five times, the FA Cup twice and the Champions League during a memorable seven years.

DID YOU KNOW?

The defending Premier League champions have had a quiet summer; Gundogan will join Brazil international Savinho as their only senior signings so far. But <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/man-city-player-ratings-chelsea-erling-haaland-matro-kovacic/bltbe1cf750ca45bbbc" target="_blank">their performance in Sunday's 2-0 win over Chelsea</a> showed that this team doesn't need much to be firmly in the hunt to make it five titles in a row. They take on Ipswich Town at home on Saturday.

WHAT NEXT FOR CITY?

Man City reach 'full agreement' to re-sign Ilkay Gundogan from Barcelona with veteran midfielder making huge financial sacrifice to seal Premier League return | Goal.com

Ilkay Gundogan is set to return to Manchester City from Barcelona after agreeing to a short-term deal with the Premier League champions.

Man City reach &apos;full agreement&apos; to re-sign Ilkay Gundogan from Barcelona with veteran midfielder making huge financial sacrifice to seal Premier League return