“Man City Will Always Hold A Special Place In My Heart”

Written By Albert Echatah

Galatasaray have signed midfielder Ilkay Gundogan from Manchester City on a free transfer, pending international clearance.

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The 35-year-old has signed a contract with the Turkish champions until the summer of 2027. This marks Gundogan’s second departure from Manchester City, having rejoined the club just last summer after a one-season stint with Barcelona.

Following a one-year contract extension that was automatically triggered, Ilkay Gundogan had initially expressed his desire to stay with Manchester City for the 2025-2026 season.

However, he has now made a U-turn and will leave the club to join Galatasaray. This move is considered a positive outcome for everyone involved.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola wanted to reduce the size of his squad and was willing to let Gundogan go. For Gundogan, the transfer offers him the chance to play for his boyhood club, which has been interested in him for a while.

Shortly before his transfer to Galatasaray was made official, Gündoğan spoke to reporters at a Turkish airport, saying: “I’m very happy. It’s a proud day for me and my family. We’re very excited. We’re very happy to be here. Hopefully, we’ll adapt to the team quickly, meet my teammates and play some fun football.

“There were transfer talks, but I wasn’t keen on anything. Talks with Galatasaray started in May or June. There were other issues. They sorted out [Victor] Osimhen and [Leroy] Sane. We had to wait a bit, but thankfully, we’ll make all the signings on the last day and become part of the Galatasaray family.

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“Sane and I are good friends. We play well together. I met with coach Okan [Buruk] two days ago. After that, everything moved very quickly. I’m looking forward to working with him. I’m very happy.

“It’s a very proud day. We’ve returned home. We’re very happy about that. It’s a great pride to be a part of the Galatasaray community. We’ve reunited. I’m looking forward to the moment I put on that jersey and step into the stadium.”

“Manchester City will always hold a special place in my heart,” Gundogan told the club’s official website.

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