Man City captain Gundogan to join Barcelona for free

Manchester City’s captain, Ilkay Gundogan, will be leaving the club and joining Barcelona on a free transfer as his contract comes to an end this month. While City had offered Gundogan a new contract, he has opted for a more lucrative three-year deal with the Spanish champions.

Gundogan, aged 32, played a crucial role in Manchester City’s success this season, contributing to their treble victory. He featured in 51 games during the 2022-23 campaign, finding the back of the net 11 times.

Gundogan originally arrived at Manchester City in 2016 from Borussia Dortmund, in a transfer worth around £20 million. Over his seven-year tenure at Etihad Stadium, he made 304 appearances for the club and scored an impressive 60 goals.

During his time at Manchester City, Gundogan has amassed an impressive collection of silverware, having won 14 trophies, including five Premier League titles, one Champions League, two FA Cups, four Carabao Cups, and two Community Shields.

After the departure of Fernandinho, the Brazilian midfielder, Gundogan took on the role of club captain at the beginning of the 2022-23 season.