Manchester City have announced a return for former captain Ilkay Gundogan from Barcelona after just a single season in Catalonia. The 33-year-old pens a one-year deal back at the Etihad.

Gundogan wrote a farewell message to the fans at Barcelona on social media, making it clear that he was leaving the club in order to aid their financial struggles. It is thought that the club invited him to leave so that they could try to register new signing Dani Olmo, while Hansi Flick reportedly told him he might not be a starter.

Barcelona thanked Gundogan for his commitment on both a personal and professional level, while Manchester City confirmed the deal too. Gundogan made 51 appearances for Barcelona, giving 14 assists and scoring 5 times. He was their most used player, and while there might be concerns about his fitness coming off a major tournament too, there are certainly not be any about his level. Equally, Pep Guardiola may not use him as a starter every week going forward.