Ilkay Gundogan joins Manchester City: Germany midfielder seals £20m move to become Pep Guardiola's first signing
Gundogan arrives from Borussia Dortmund and is the first player to join City since Pep Guardiola took over as manager
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester City have announced the signing of Germany international midfielder Ilkay Gundogan in a reported £20m transfer from Borussia Dortmund.
Gundogan has penned a four-year contract with the Capital One Cup champions and becomes the first signing of the Pep Guardiola era, after the former Bayern Munich manager replaced Manuel Pellegrini at the end of the season.
Speaking to mcfc.co.uk after completing the move, 25-year-old Gundogan thanked Dortmund for his time with the Bundesliga club, but admitted the chance to work with Guardiola was something that he couldn’t turn down.
“I’m thrilled to have signed for Manchester City,” said Gundogan. “When I learned of City’s interest my heart was set on coming here and things have moved very quickly.
“I have loved my time with Borussia Dortmund and I would like to thank the club and the supporters for the five very happy years I spent there.
“They gave me a platform to play on and I became a better player because of the belief, patience and trust they showed in me.
“Now I have a new challenge and that is to achieve great things with City. The opportunity to work with a coach like Pep Guardiola is something I am really looking forward to and I am flattered to be the first signing the Club has made this summer.
“I can promise the City fans I will give everything to help us win titles both in England and the Champions League. These are exciting times.
“I have my best years ahead of me and I think we can achieve great things together. I can’t wait to begin this new chapter in my career.”
In a video released by the club on Twitter, Gundogan added: “Hello City fans, you’ve been tweeting me for a long time, and now I officially announce that I am a Manchester City player. Hope to see you soon.”
Gundogan arrives at City after a five-year spell with Dortmund, in which he made 157 appearances for the club and helped them to their Bundesliga and German Cup double in 2011/12 as well as the Champions League final the following season.
However, despite being part of the Germany side that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2012, Gundogan has only amassed 16 caps for his country, having suffered heavily from injury over the past three seasons in which he missed the victorious 2014 World Cup campaign.
Gundogan was signed for Dortmund by their former manager Jurgen Klopp after he spotted the midfielder at Nurnberg, having made his senior debut at Bochum. Having enjoyed success together, Gundogan and Klopp will go head-to-head next season when City face Liverpool in the Premier League.
Gundogan will not, however, be heading to France with the rest of the Germany squad after he was omitted from Joachim Low’s 23-man party due to a dislocated knee cap he suffered towards the end of the season, having played just four matches across March and April due to other injury troubles.
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