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Galatasaray has secured the signature of German international Ilkay Gundogan after months of speculation.
The experienced midfielder, who had been preparing to part ways with Manchester City, has agreed to join the Turkish champions.
The deal came together after Manchester City finally allowed Gundogan to leave on a free transfer. Galatasaray had long been interested but insisted that the player first secure his release from the Premier League side.
According to reports, the City initially resisted but later gave its approval, paving the way for the move to Istanbul.
The Istanbul club is reported to have reached a two-year agreement with the 33-year-old midfielder. He is set to receive an annual salary of €5 million (over $5.8 million).
This makes him one of the highest-earning players in the Turkish Super Lig, where top clubs often compete fiercely to attract international stars.
The midfielder’s citizenship status could affect how Galatasaray registers him.
If Gundogan holds Turkish nationality, he may be eligible to play as a local player under Türkiye’s league rules, despite choosing the German national team before 2015.
If he holds only German citizenship, however, he will be considered a foreign player, which would impact Galatasaray’s foreign player quota.
The player is expected to arrive in Istanbul this afternoon by private jet to finalize the deal. His official presentation is anticipated soon after his arrival.
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