Report: Barcelona win race to sign Gundogan on free transfer

Manchester City are losing their treble-winning captain.

Ilkay Gundogan will join Barcelona on a free transfer at the end of June after agreeing to a contract until 2025 with an option for an additional year, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.

The midfielder, who was also linked with Arsenal, couldn't agree to a new deal with Manchester City because he apparently wanted a contract that would run for at least two years.

Pep Guardiola and the club's hierarchy wanted Gundogan to remain at the Etihad Stadium. "We're fighting for him to stay," the City manager said Monday.

Gundogan, 32, was already hugely popular with Manchester City fans due to his intelligent play in midfield and knack for scoring timely goals, but he cemented legendary status through his exploits toward the back end of the last two seasons. The German scored twice in a three-goal comeback win over Aston Villa to clinch the 2021-22 Premier League title on the final day, then he scored vital goals during the recent Premier League run-in and struck two volleys to down Manchester United in the FA Cup final earlier in June.

Gundogan's 7-year gold rush:

"He can do everything," Guardiola said of Gundogan in May. "He shows leadership every training session. Arriving on time, living the job 24 hours a day. He is a guy who handles the pressure really, really well."

Gundogan joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in 2016 for around £20 million. He was the first signing of the Guardiola era.