The midfielder spent seven hugely successful seasons at the Etihad before moving to the La Liga side in June 2023, just 16 days after captaining City to an historic Treble thanks to victory over Inter in the Champions League final in Istanbul.
Over the course of his remarkable first stint at the Club, the German won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, two Community Shields and one Champions League, making 304 appearances and scoring 60 goals.
And after one full season at Barcelona, which saw him play 51 times in all competitions and help the Catalan giants finish second in La Liga, the 33-year-old is back at City as we bid to make it five Premier League titles in succession.
Upon his return to Manchester, Gundogan says he could not be happier to be back at City.
“My seven years at Manchester City were a time of pure contentment for me, both on and off the pitch,” Gundogan said.
“I grew as a person and a player, developed a special relationship with the City fans and enjoyed amazing success. It was an exceptional period in my life.
“To have the opportunity to return here means so much.
“Everyone knows the respect I have for Pep – he is the best manager in the world and working with him every day makes you a better player. You feel constantly challenged, which for any professional is exactly what you want. I cannot wait to work with him again.
“And what can I say about my teammates here at City…they are world class footballers. I am genuinely delighted to have the chance to train and play alongside them.
“Honestly, I cannot wait to wear the City shirt again.”
City’s Director of Football Txiki Begiristain added: “Ilkay is one of the finest professionals I have ever worked with. His dedication to football and his approach to every single training session is something special.
“He is also an exceptional midfielder. His reading of the game, his football intelligence, his technical quality and his leadership make him an excellent addition to our squad.
“To be able to bring him back here is fantastic news for everyone. He will help us in our main objective, which is to win trophies, but he will also be an inspiration to so many.”
Gundogan had the distinction of being Guardiola’s first City signing when he initially joined the Club as a 25-year-old from Borussia Dortmund back in the summer of 2016.
He had garnered a reputation as one of the finest technical midfielders in Europe, but despite his esteemed status on the world stage, no one could have foreseen the impact he would go on to have under Guardiola during a glittering chapter for the Club.
He won 14 major trophies throughout a period of unparalleled success. Indeed, his final two games for City saw him score twice in a 2-1 FA Cup final win over Manchester United, before leading the team to a 1-0 victory over Inter in the Champions League final to complete a glorious Treble.
As final acts at a club go, few can match Gundogan’s exploits.
But perhaps his finest hour came in the final game of the 2021/22 Premier League season, when his dramatic late brace completed a stunning turnaround from 2-0 down to secure a 3-2 win over Aston Villa and so seal the Premier League title.
He left for Barcelona in June 2023 with his place in the pantheon of Manchester City greats assured, and four months later in October of that year – the day of his 33rd birthday - it was confirmed a training pitch at the City Football Academy, featuring a mosaic paying tribute to his title-winning goal against Villa, had been named after Gundogan in dedication to his remarkable seven years at City.
And now, after a year playing in Spain’s La Liga, he is back at City for a second spell in Manchester.
Everyone at Manchester City wishes Ilkay the very best of luck on his return to the Club.
