Barcelona close the signing of Manchester City star for June 2023

Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan will join FC Barcelona in June, according to a report from Spain.

The Germany international midfielder is into the final few months of his existing Etihad Stadium contract, with talks between the player, his representatives and Manchester City yet to get going.

That has meant that Gundogan has been free to discuss his future and potential options with any clubs across the continent and further afield, with a number of Europe’s premier teams showing a keen interest in the 32 year-old.

Just this week, it was reported in England that La Liga giants Barcelona held a serious interest in signing Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer at the end of the season, and fresh reports from Spain on Thursday would suggest that this interest has now ended in a positive outcome for the Camp Nou side.

According to the information of Jose Alvarez, reporting for El Chiringuito, FC Barcelona have now ‘closed’ the signing of Ilkay Gundogan from Manchester City for June 2023 – upon the expiry of his current deal with the Premier League champions.

It is stated that the former Borussia Dortmund man – who was one of Pep Guardiola’s first signings upon his arrival at City – has wanted to make the move to Spain for ‘family reasons’ and believes that his time at the Etihad Stadium is now over.

Gundogan would become the latest in a growing list of players to make the switch from the Etihad Stadium to Catalonia, with Ferran Torres joining Xavi’s project last year in a £48 million deal, adding to Eric Garcia’s move a year prior.

Bernardo Silva is another name that has attracted the La Liga club on multiple occassions, with the previous summer transfer window perhaps being the closest that the Portugal international has got to joining the club.

However, despite the former AS Monaco and Benfica’s best efforts to disclose his unhappiness in Manchester and his clear desire to leave City, Barcelona were unable to meet the financial requirements set out by the Premier League club to complete a deal.