Revealed: How Ilkay Gundogan could automatically trigger a Manchester City contract extension | OneFootball

Ilkay Gundogan could automatically trigger a contract extension with Manchester City during the 2024/25 campaign.

The 33-year-old completed a return to Manchester City on a free transfer from FC Barcelona ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side hosting Ipswich Town in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Gundogan, who also announced retirement from international football earlier this week, returns to east Manchester just over 12 months after choosing to sign for Barcelona following a seven-year stay with the Premier League champions.

The midfielder was Guardiola’s first signing at Manchester City in 2016, and won 14 trophies during an initial seven-year stay with the Sky Blues, including captaining the club to an historic treble success in 2023.

Manchester City won the Premier League, Emirates FA Cup and UEFA Champions League during the 2022/23 season, becoming the first side since Manchester United in 1999 to win all three trophies.

Gundogan, who has won 14 trophies to date with Manchester City, made 51 appearances for Barcelona during his debut campaign at the Catalan club, and has previously played 304 times for the Blues.

The German has signed an initial one-year deal with Manchester City, but the agreement includes an option for the 33-year-old to extend his contract at the Etihad Stadium by a further 12 months.

Paul Hirst reports that Gundogan’s contract will be automatically extended during the season should the midfielder play a certain number of matches for Manchester City.

Guardiola’s side could play a record number of matches during the 2024/25 campaign, with Manchester City competing in an expanded version of the UEFA Champions League, as well as the 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

Gundogan will wear the number 19 shirt at Manchester City, selecting the number following Julian Alvarez’s club-record sale to Atletico Madrid.