Ilkai Gundogan is a new Barcelona player: details of his contract and the exorbitant termination clause

He FC Barcelona announced this Monday the signing of the German midfielder Ilkay Gundogana key player for Guardiola’s Manchester City, to add options to a midfield in which he has yet to find a replacement for the great gap left by Sergio Busquets.

“The player will sign for two seasons, until June 30, 2025, plus an optional one and will have a termination clause of 400 million euros,” the Catalans said in a statement.

Despite the fact that Manchester City had tried to retain the 32-year-old midfielder, whose contract ended in June 2023, with a one-year extension proposal and an extra year as an option, the pressure from the Catalan club ended up winning the game.

“[El técnico barcelonista] Xavi [Hernández] He has called him many times ”, acknowledged last week his already former manager at City, Pep Guardiola, who stated that he hoped to retain the captain of the team, the new European champion.

“We want him to continue because we believe he is a very important player for us, but if in the end he decides to come to Barcelona, ​​I will tell him that he will have a great time,” Guardiola added, however.

Arriving in Manchester in June 2016 from Borussia Dortmund, in his seven seasons with the Citizens shirt Gündogan added five Premier titles, one Champions League, two FA Cups and four League Cups.

This season, in which City signed a treble, the German played 51 games, in all competitions, adding 11 goals.

“This club made me realize all my dreams and I will always be grateful for this opportunity,” Gündogan told his former team’s website.

“I will always carry City in my heart. “Once a blue, always a blue,” he added.

Despite the fact that he will turn 33 in October, the German has just completed one of his best seasons, being one of the key pieces of Manchester City that has fulfilled the long-awaited goal of winning the Champions League at the hands of Guardiola.

His six goals in the last seven games for City helped the team reach their treble, prompting the English club to try one last ditch effort to retain him.

To alleviate his departure, Manchester City has already announced an agreement with Chelsea to incorporate Mateo Kovacic, for an estimated amount of 35 million euros.

– Adjusted numbers –

The new signing of Barça reinforces a midfield full of options now for Xavi, where the two young Spanish promises Pedri and Gavi stand out, as well as the Dutchman Frenkie de Jong.

Xavi, however, is still worried about finding a defensive midfielder who can fulfill the difficult mission of replacing Sergio Busquets, who left Barca to play alongside former teammate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.

It was precisely after failing to finalize the return of the Argentine star, with whom Barça was negotiating his possible return until a few weeks ago, when the Catalan club intensified its commitment to Gündogan.

Despite the delicate financial situation of the club, FC Barcelona continues to look for signings that do not imply large outlays, since they have to lower their salary bill or make new income to be able to continue going to the market without penalty.