Ilkay Gundogan, the German midfielder and captain of Manchester City’s treble-winning side, has officially joined Turkish champions Galatasaray. The move, which is subject to international clearance, ends his second spell with the Premier League club.
Gundogan, 34, leaves City after making 358 appearances across two stints. He was a key figure in the club’s success, scoring 65 goals and winning an impressive 14 trophies, including the Premier League, FA Cup, and a historic Champions League treble in 2023.
After a brief spell with Barcelona in 2023, Gundogan returned to Manchester for the 2024/25 season, where he contributed five goals and eight assists in 54 appearances. Galatasaray announced on Tuesday that the agreement with City was for a free transfer, with Gundogan signing a contract until the end of the 2026/27 season. He is set to earn a net salary of €4.5 million per season for the next two campaigns.
In a heartfelt statement, Gundogan, whose parents are Turkish, expressed his gratitude to Manchester City. “I have no doubts Manchester City will enjoy much more success in the future and I will certainly be watching on from afar as I continue my career in Turkey, a country that means ever such a lot to me,” he said. He added that lifting the Champions League trophy with City for the first time in Istanbul will be a memory that lives with him forever.
