Galatasaray and Manchester City reach total agreement over player transfer | OneFootball

Ilkay Gundogan has taken a giant stride towards joining Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray in the closing days of the summer transfer window.

The former Germany international only returned to the Etihad Stadium last summer following a single campaign with FC Barcelona, but reports in recent weeks have consistently pointed towards a swift second departure.

With Manchester City undergoing a midfield rebuild under Pep Guardiola, Gundogan’s long-term future had been called into question despite a one-year extension that automatically triggered in his contract after registering the required number of appearances last campaign.

Manchester City’s hierarchy have already overseen the arrivals of Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders in the last nine months, both of whom are seen as long-term midfield solutions for both the present and future.

That influx of younger talent reduced the space for Gundogan to feature regularly, particularly with the club also holding onto experienced options such as Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva – also appointed as the club’s new captain.

Speculation grew further when reports in Italy claimed Gundogan was pushing for a Serie A switch, with Inter and Juventus tentatively linked. In Turkey however, Galatasaray’s pursuit of the veteran has been building pace for several weeks.

Reports earlier this month revealed that the Super Lig giants had placed a lucrative contract offer on the table, with fresh claims suggesting negotiations were at an advanced stage. That has now reached a breakthrough with City’s green light.

According to the information of journalist Fabrizio Romano, Galatasaray and City have agreed on a deal for experienced midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who will be leaving the Etihad Stadium this summer following authorisation from club officials.

A deal is now said to be awaiting the player’s approval over a two-year contract, while those at the Galatasaray end of talks are currently preparing the player’s travel should he accept the proposal on the table.

Should the move be finalised, Gundogan will reunite with several familiar faces in Istanbul such as Leroy Sane, and become a marquee addition to a squad that already includes a number of high-profile European names.

The Turkish side have made no secret of their ambition to strengthen with experienced internationals as they look to push on both domestically and in the UEFA Champions League, where they will face Manchester City in the league phase of the competition.

For City, Gundogan’s exit would mark the end of a short-lived reunion with their former captain, who originally departed in 2023 after leading the club to a historic treble. His leadership qualities were one of the primary reasons Pep Guardiola welcomed him back, but the shifting squad balance now appears to have forced a change of course.