Manchester City's Former Captain İlkay Gündoğan is making headlines today as he heads to Turkey. In a Deadline Day bombshell – first confirmed by insider Fabrizio Romano – the 34‑year‑old midfielder will sign for Galatasaray on a free transfer. His new deal reportedly runs until June 2027. The veteran German-Turkish playmaker has already arrived in Istanbul to complete medical checks, and City will even waive his remaining salary. City saves the roughly £230,000-per-week that Gündoğan was earning. In other words, Pep Guardiola’s side loses a legend but frees up a hefty chunk of wages, while Gala lands a proven winner – a perfect narrative for the transfer window’s final day!
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Gündoğan’s Career So Far
Before we dive into the transfer details, let’s recap Gündoğan’s journey. He’s been a star at almost every stop:
- Borussia Dortmund (2011–2016): Broke through under Jürgen Klopp, winning back-to-back Bundesliga titles and earning a reputation as a creative midfielder.
- Manchester City (2016–2023): Joined City from Dortmund on June 2, 2016. Over nine seasons he became a club legend – 304 appearances and 14 major trophies with City. Gündoğan even captained City to the historic 2022-23 treble (Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League).
- FC Barcelona (2023–24): Spent one season in Spain, helping Barça with a year of his talent.
- Return to Manchester City (Aug 2024–Sep 2025): City brought him back in August 2024, adding to his trophy haul before the latest move.
- Galatasaray (2025–2027): Now confirmed: Gündoğan will sign for Gala until summer 2027 on a free transfer.
A Manchester City midfielder celebrates during his nine trophy-laden years at the club (304 appearances, 14 honors in all).
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Free Transfer Details
The deal is clear: Gündoğan goes for free, and Galatasaray picks up his wages. According to Romano’s scoop, the Turkish champions and City agreed a full deal – no transfer fee – with a two-year contract (through June 2027). In Romano’s words, “Deal until June 2027… Man City will let Gündogan leave for free as the agreement includes salary saved.”s. In fact, City has agreed to waive Gündoğan’s reported £230K-per-week wages as part of the transfer.
- Contract: Two-year deal until June 2027.
- Fee: Free transfer – Galatasaray pays €0 to City.
- City’s Savings: By letting him go, City avoids paying Gündoğan’s £230,000/week salary.
In short, City gets rid of a departing legend and his salary, while Galatasaray acquires a world-class midfielder without a transfer fee.
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Gündoğan Touches Down in Istanbul
Gündoğan wasted no time. Romano even posted “Gündo, in Istanbul today” with a photo of the midfielder in town. Local reports confirm he’s already arrived in Istanbul for medicals and to sign his new contract. The club announced that City has approved the move and Gala has scheduled the medical – all systems are go. By tomorrow, Gala expects their new playmaker to be officially unveiled.
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What This Means for Galatasaray
Landing Gündoğan is a huge coup for the Turkish giants. BeIN Sports calls it “one of the biggest coups of the summer”. At 34, he brings veteran leadership, European experience, and proven quality. As BeIN notes, his leadership and international pedigree make him a vital addition to Gala’s midfield. He joins a team eager to compete in the Champions League, and his composure with the ball will be invaluable under coach Okan Buruk.
Ilkay Gündogan Joins Galatasaray in Confirmed Transfer Until 2027 – Fabrizio Romano
The reaction from Galatasaray fans has been ecstatic. Gündoğan was born in Germany to Turkish parents and grew up a Gala supporter, so this feels like a homecoming. The press points out that he’s “returning to his roots” in Istanbul and “generating huge excitement among fans”. For many supporters, seeing a two-time Bundesliga winner and 14-time English title-winner in their colors is a dream. Social media is buzzing with praise, memes, and hopes that Gündoğan will help lead Gala back to the Champions League knockout rounds.
Some key points for Galatasaray:
- Ambition: Acquiring a world-class midfielder on deadline day sends a strong message that the club means business.
- Midfield Upgrade: Adds creativity and calm under pressure; he’s known as one of Guardiola’s most trusted lieutenants.
- Fan Morale: A celebratory boost – fans have been “ecstatic” about the signing, treating it as a statement of intent for the season.
City’s Next Steps
On Manchester’s end, Gündoğan’s exit is part of a wider squad overhaul. City have already seen veteran stars like Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson, and Manuel Akanji leave this summer. Releasing Gündoğan’s hefty wages (and making space in the squad) gives Guardiola more freedom to bring in fresh talent. It’s bittersweet for City fans – they lose another captain and match-winner – but the club will reinvest those resources as the next chapter begins.
Breaking News (Courtesy Fabrizio Romano)
Ultimately, this transfer was broke by the ever-reliable Fabrizio Romano. His deadline-day tweet “İlkay Gündogan to Galatasaray, here we go!” was the first public confirmation. All credit to Fabrizio for the scoop. Stay tuned: as Fabrizio says, the deal is set to be “signed later today”, and we can’t wait to see Gündo wear the yellow‑red of Galatasaray.
Sources: Fabrizio Romano on X; manchestercity.news; OneFootball onefootball.com; beIN Sportsbeinsports.com; Manchester City FC (official)mancity.com.