Barcelona agree Ilkay Gündogan signing from Manchester City: contract details, salary, release clause…

Ilkay Gündogan will leave Champions League winners Manchester City to join Barcelona this summer, with the German signing what could be a three-year contract in Catalonia. Mateu Alemany, the club’s sporting director, travelled to Munich on Wednesday to finalise a deal that had been on the cards for several month.

After Barça boss Xavi Hernandez first spoke to the City captain by phone in February, it became clear that taking Gündogan to the LaLiga champions would be no easy task. However, the midfielder has ultimately agreed to make the switch, signing an initial two-year contract with the option of an extra season, in which he will earn €10 million per year before tax. The former Borussia Dortmund man will also have a release clause of €500 million.

City’s attempts to keep Gündogan

The move was made difficult by Manchester City’s desire to keep hold of their player at all costs, even offering to double his salary and the length of a potential new contract as they made one final push. In addition, other clubs such as Arsenal and former employers Dortmund were also chasing the German international.

Barça’s financial obstacle overcome

However, Gündogan had been very attracted by Barcelona’s interest from the outset. His family, in particular his wife, have also played a big role in convincing the City captain to leave England for Spain.

Another obstacle, of course, was Barcelona’s inability to guarantee that they would actually be able to register him to play. LaLiga have only recently approved the club’s financial viability plan, which means they are finally able to sign new players - and even register current ones - after their well-documented accounting issues.

When will Gündogan begin his Barcelona career?

For Xavi, the signing of Gündogan is a shot in the arm. The midfielder’s arrival will strengthen the team’s attacking play, with the German offering support to the strikers from deep, along with the ability to score goals himself and provide assists. The club believe they have made a “Champions League” signing, who is expected to move to Catalonia on 17 July, two days before the start of their summer US tour.

Martínez and Roque to move to Barça

Gündogan is Barça’s third signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Iñigo Martínez, who underwent his medical at the club a week ago, and young Brazilian striker Vitor Roque, who is set to join from Athletico Panaerense in his homeland.

The 32-year-old’s arrival will increase Xavi’s options in midfield, with Gündgoan able to play as one of the two more advanced central midfielders in a 4-3-3 and ease the demands on Pedri, who was prone to injury last season.