Manchester City has reportedly reached an agreement to bring back Ilkay Gundogan, just 14 months after he left the club for FC Barcelona. According to various outlets, including The Athletic and transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano, Gundogan is on the verge of reuniting with his former club after a short stint in Spain.
Gundogan, who joined Barcelona on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, had been instrumental in Manchester City’s historic treble-winning campaign, which included their maiden UEFA Champions League title.
The veteran midfielder, who captained City during that remarkable season, had opted to leave the Etihad for what he described as a “dream move” to the Catalan giants. He reportedly turned down a more lucrative contract extension from City at the time to make the switch to La Liga.
However, Gundogan’s time at Barcelona has been less than ideal. Despite being one of the team’s standout performers, a trophyless season plagued by injuries to key players such as Pedri, Gavi, and Frenkie de Jong left the club struggling to meet expectations. The 33-year-old midfielder was a consistent force under former head coach Xavi Hernandez, who was relieved of his duties after the season.
Xavi’s successor, Hansi Flick, who once made Gundogan captain of the German national team, was expected to continue relying on the experienced midfielder. Despite this, speculation surrounding Gundogan’s future grew when he was a surprise omission from Flick’s squad for Barcelona’s first match of the new season against Valencia.
The omission led to widespread rumors about Gundogan’s potential departure, with reports from Radio Catalunya and Cadena SER linking him with a sensational return to Manchester City.
Amid the swirling rumors, Gundogan took to Twitter to congratulate his Barcelona teammates on their hard-fought comeback at the Mestalla, fueling further speculation about his future. Despite Flick telling Spanish television that he believed Gundogan would remain at the club, the reports of a potential move back to City intensified.
The move comes as somewhat of a shock given that Gundogan had only recently made the switch to Barcelona and had been viewed as a key figure in the team’s plans moving forward.
His departure would be a significant loss for Barcelona, who are still grappling with the aftermath of a disappointing season. For Manchester City, however, Gundogan’s return would mark a significant coup, adding experience and leadership to an already star-studded squad.
Gundogan’s potential return to Manchester City would see him reunited with manager Pep Guardiola, under whom he flourished during his first stint at the club.
Having already enjoyed great success in the Premier League and Champions League with City, Gundogan would undoubtedly bring valuable experience and tactical versatility to the team as they continue to compete on multiple fronts.
As of now, official confirmation of the deal is still pending, but multiple sources suggest that it is only a matter of time before Gundogan is once again wearing the sky-blue shirt of Manchester City.
