Ilkay Gundogan Leaves Manchester City For Galatasaray On Free Transfer

Ilkay Gundogan has left Manchester City for a second time since 2023, signing a two-year contract with Turkish club Galatasaray on a free transfer. The 34-year-old midfielder, who captained City to a treble-winning season in 2023, sought a move to continue playing regularly and join his childhood favorite club in Turkey, where he will reunite with former national teammate Leroy Sané. Gundogan made 358 appearances for City across both spells, winning 14 trophies, and was part of the squad undergoing a rebuild under Pep Guardiola, which saw him fall down the pecking order. Manchester City's Director of Football Hugo Viana praised Gundogan's legacy and human qualities, emphasizing that he will always be welcome at the club. The transfer agreement was mutual, with Galatasaray not paying a transfer fee, highlighting the midfielder's desire to pursue new challenges in the Turkish Süper Lig. Gundogan expressed gratitude to Manchester City and excitement about the next chapter in his career.