On October 24, 1990, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, İlkay Gündoğan was born. Gündoğan began his football career at the VfL Bochum junior academy. In 2009, he went on to join 1. FC Nürnberg. He joined Borussia Dortmund in 2011 and played there for more than 150 games.
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In his debut season, he won the DFB-Pokal and the Bundesliga twice. Gündoğan relocated to Manchester City in 2016, where he played in excess of 300 games. Before quitting the team in 2022–23, he was named club captain in 2022 and guided the group to a continental triple crown in that season.
Ilkay Gundogan Journey
Ilkay Gündoğan’s love for football began at an early age.
Ilkay Gundogan was raised in a multicultural setting where football was the common language, having been born into a Turkish family. His early years were spent developing his abilities in neighborhood youth teams, where his extraordinary talent allowed him to swiftly establish himself.
Gundogan’s entry into the youth system of Schalke 04, one of the most prominent teams in Germany, marked his first noteworthy move in the professional game. But he quickly transferred to VfL Bochum’s youth academy in search of more significant growth prospects. Here in Bochum, under the direction of committed coaches who saw his potential, Gundogan’s technical skills and grasp of the game blossomed.
Gundogan made his Bundesliga debut after joining 1. FC Nürnberg, which was his turning point. He made an instant impression and demonstrated his ability as a top-level midfielder in Germany. As a result of Gundogan’s performances, Borussia Dortmund soon realized he had promise. In the 2011–12 Bundesliga season, he helped Dortmund win the championship, solidifying his status as a rising star in German football.
Ilkay Gundogan Family
His parents are very supportive of his career.
Mr. Irfan Gündoğan and Ayten Gündoğan are Ilkay’s parents. His grandfather, a miner in the Ruhr region of Germany, initially relocated from Balıkesir, Turkey, to Germany, bringing both of his parents with him. After his employment as a Nordstern miner paid off, Ilkay Gundogan’s grandfather made the effort to send his parents to Germany, where he was born.
Ever cheerful, Ilkay had a joyful upbringing in the well-known immigrant neighborhood of Gelsenkirchen, which is credited with producing artists such as Mesut Ozil and Leroy Sane, who were born to Turkish and African parents, respectively.
Ilkay Gundogan Wife
Ilkay Gundogan got married in 2022.
Sara Arfaoui, also known as Sara Benamira, was born in Nice, France on July 17, 1995, and later relocated to Italy. It has been reported that the 28-year-old’s mother was of Tunisian descent and that she has Algerian roots as well. She has three sisters and a brother, and she speaks French, Tunisian, and Italian fluently. The Italian wife of Gundogan is an actress, model, and TV personality who is well-known for her work as a presenter on Rai 1 and shows like L’Eredità.
Prior to entering the world of reel life, it was previously reported that she had worked with a few well-known fashion labels. The Italian model additionally contributed to several shows, including Riki Feat. CNCO: Cervantes en 2018; Eredità en 2002. Arfaoui is an influencer as well, with over 837,000 Instagram followers. She is renowned for offering her followers advice on fashion and cosmetics. As a result, fans have been curious about the relationship between the German player and Arfaoui.
The former Borussia Dortmund player gave little away about how he got into dating. However, it is well known that Arfaoui and Ilkay Gundogan have been dating since 2021. In December of the same year, Gundogan declared his engagement to the model. The couple married in Denmark and celebrated their wedding anniversary with loved ones at Lake Como in Italy in May of 2022.
Kais Gundogan, the couple’s first child, was born on March 15 of last year. It was speculated that the 33-year-old’s wife was the reason behind his transfer to Barcelona, but Arfaoui refuted the claims, saying instead that she was taken aback by his decision.
Ilkay Gundogan Club Career
Ilkay Gundogan currently plays for Manchester City.
German professional football player İlkay Gündoğan is a midfielder. Gündoğan started his career as a VfL Bochum youth academy graduate. He joined 1. FC Nürnberg in 2009 and played in 48 games while scoring 6 goals. Gündoğan joined Borussia Dortmund in 2011.
In his first season, he won the DFB-Pokal and the Bundesliga, making over 150 games for the team. In the 2013 UEFA Champions League final, which Dortmund lost to Bayern Munich, he also scored.
Gündoğan relocated to Manchester City in 2016. He played in more than 300 games and won five Premier League championships, four EFL Cups, two FA Cups, and the Champions League while he was there.
Before quitting the team in 2022–23, he was named club captain in 2022 and guided the group to a continental triple crown in that season. Gündoğan played in Spain for a season with Barcelona. He returned to Manchester City in 2024.
Ilkay Gundogan International Career
He has an impressive presence on the international stage.
Gündoğan’s contribution to the German national squad has been invaluable. After making his senior debut in 2011, he has gone on to represent Germany in a number of international competitions.
Notably, he was instrumental in Germany’s victory at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In addition, he took part in the UEFA European Championships (Euros), supporting Germany’s efforts. Gündoğan is renowned for his passing range, vision, and technical proficiency.
He generates creativity in the middle of the park, links defense and offense, and directs play as a midfielder.
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Ilkay Gundogan Playing Style
Gundogan is a sight to see with his versatile playing style.
The playing of İlkay Gündoğan is varied and lively. On the field, Gündoğan has exceptional vision. He can identify accurate passes at any range, whether they are short or long, thanks to his ability to read the game.
He frequently plays the role of a deep-lying playmaker, starting assaults and well passing the ball. His close ball control makes it possible for him to move through confined spaces.
Gündoğan can dribble past opponents with ease, opening up play in the last third. He is well-versed in positional play. He adjusts to the requirements of the team with ease, whether he is pressing forward or helping the defense. From midfield, Gündoğan contributes goals. His late dashes into the box surprise opponents.
He has remarkable finishing ability, particularly for a midfield player. During games, he moves a great deal, both offensively and defensively. The team benefits from his work rate and tactical discipline. İlkay Gündoğan is a dynamic force in midfield thanks to his combination of creativity, work ethic, and mobility.
Ilkay Gundogan Transfer
Ilkay Gundogan, a 33-year-old midfielder who won 12 major championships during his seven years at City between 2016 and 2023, has returned to Man City on a free transfer from Barcelona. Despite interest from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Gundogan will play for another year on a one-year contract.
He is expected to be available for Saturday’s Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium against Ipswich. Gundogan further disclosed that one of the main reasons he decided to come back was to work under Pep Guardiola, the “best manager in the world.”
This video talks about his return:
Ilkay Gundogan Net Worth
Gundogan is thought to have earned an astounding £22 million while previously playing for Manchester City. The midfield player began his career earning £140,000 a week, but his income quickly increased to £160,000. After his recent transfer to Manchester City, his salary is yet to be available publicly.
The former star of Borussia Dortmund is believed to have earned over €15 million (around £13 million) a year since joining Barcelona, placing him third in the ranks of the team’s paid players behind Robert Lewandowski and Frenkie De Jong. The German celebrity’s endorsement contract with Adidas will also significantly increase his riches. Football players frequently work with companies that sell athletic apparel, energy drinks, and other lifestyle goods which is the same for Ilkay and that also contributes to increasing his net worth.
