Club hero Ilkay Gundogan is poised to return to Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City and Gundogan’s camp have reached an agreement for the German to re-sign with the current Premier League champions, The Athletic‘s Pol Ballús reported on Wednesday.
The midfielder, 33, will leave Barcelona on a free transfer. He will pen a one-year contract with City with an option for an additional 12 months.
In order to make the move possible, Gundogan is waiving the final two years of salary he would be owed by Barcelona. According to Ballús, the third year of his contract was triggered last season, when he played in more than 60 per cent of games.
Following the expiration of his first City contract in June 2023, the former Manchester skipper will leave the La Liga club just one year after joining them. He made 36 appearances in 2023-24, scoring five goals.
In his first bout at City, Gundogan made 188 appearances, winning two FA Cups, one Champions League trophy and five Premier League titles.
City has been quiet on the summer transfer front, with Brazilian winger Savinho the only signing after forward Julian Alvarez left for Atletico Madrid.
City topped Chelsea 2-0 in its opening game of the 2024-25 Premier League season last weekend, and will face Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Internationally, Gundogan announced his retirement from the German team earlier this week after 82 caps and 13 years in the national program. He captained Germany at the Euros on home soil this summer.
