Ilkay Gundogan returns for his second spell at Man City after just a year at Barcelona

Ilkay Gundogan is back at Manchester City for a sequel few could have expected.

A year after leaving for Barcelona, the former Germany midfielder completed his return to City on Friday on a free transfer and a season-long deal.

The 33-year-old Gundogan, who has the option of a further season at City, was the captain when Pep Guardiola's team captured the Premier League- FA Cup -Champions League treble in the 2022-23 campaign.

That confirmed his place in the growing pantheon of City greats, having already been in the conversation most notably after scoring two late goals against Aston Villa on the final day of the 2021-22 Premier League season to seal a 3-2 win that clinched the title. He was at City for seven years after joining in 2016 as Guardiola's first signing, and was so often his manager's go-to player with big performances and significant goals — as well as his neighbor.