Ilkay Gundogan Leaves Barcelona Due to Financial Constraints
Ilkay Gundogan has confirmed his departure from Barcelona due to financial reasons. The midfielder rejoined Manchester City after just one season with the Catalan club.
Gundogan joined Barcelona last year after a successful seven-year stint with City, where he won numerous trophies, including the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup treble in 2022-23. During his time at Barcelona, he made significant contributions, leading the team in appearances, goals, assists, and chances created.
The midfielder made 51 appearances in his only season with the Catalan giants – more than any of his team-mates, scoring five goals and providing 14 assists in all competitions.
He also created more than double the chances (132) of any other Barcelona player, with Raphinha a distant second in that metric with 53. Ninety-seven of those chances have been created in LaLiga, the most by any Barca midfielder in a single season since Xavi laid down 109 under Pep Guardiola in 2009-10.
However, Barcelona needed to move Gundogan on after sealing €60m for Spain’s Euro 2024 star Dani Olmo, whose salary was reportedly preventing them from registering their new arrival. In a farewell post on X, Gundogan confirmed that his departure was partly due to financial reasons.
“Dear Culers, after just one year it’s already time to say goodbye. I came here to face a new, exciting challenge, and I was ready for it,” he wrote.
“I have given everything to fight for the team and the club in the best possible way in a difficult season and I was looking forward to helping my team-mates in the new campaign.
“Now I am leaving in a difficult situation, but if my departure can help the club financially, it makes me a bit less sad.
“Nevertheless, it’s been a time with incredible experiences and ups and downs – I always wanted to play at Barca, and I am very grateful for a memory and experience that I will remember for my life.
“I wish you the best for the season and for the future. The fans deserve to get this big club back to the world’s best. Visca el Barca!”
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