BARCELONA, Spain — Ilkay Gundogan ended his trophy-laden seven-year stay with Manchester City by agreeing to join Barcelona on a free transfer on Monday.

The Germany midfielder's last act as a City player — and captain — was to lift the Champions League trophy, which completed a treble of major titles for the English club.

He is heading to Spain on a two-year contract, with the option of a further year, even though Pep Guardiola wanted to keep the 32-year-old Gundogan — the first signing by the City manager after he started in 2016.

"This club made me realize all my dreams and I will forever be thankful for this opportunity," Gundogan said. "I will carry City always in my heart. Once a blue, always a blue."

Having missed out on securing the return of Lionel Messi, Barcelona made the signing of Gundogan a priority to add some experience to a midfield already containing youngsters Pedri and Gavi, two of its pillars going forward, but no longer including veteran leader Sergio Busquets, who is leaving the club for Inter Miami.

Frenkie de Jong also played an important role last season for Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez, despite efforts by the club to sell him in the offseason of 2022.

Barcelona has set Gundogan's buyout clause at 400 million euros (about $435 million).

In a statement, the Spanish champion described its latest signing as a player "who reads the game to perfection" and "one of the world's best midfielders of the last decade or so".

Gundogan's arrival comes while debt-ridden Barcelona is still struggling to meet the Spanish league's financial rules.

Only recently was it able to find a way to officially register Gavi as a first-team player. It is widely expected that Barca will sell players to reduce its expenses, and the addition of Gundogan will probably only add to that burden.

While Barcelona sold off part of its future television revenues and other assets to have the cash necessary to sign Robert Lewandowski and others last year, its financial problems have increasingly forced the club to find free agents who want to come to Spain.

Last year, the team picked up current players Andreas Christensen, Marcos Alonso and Franck Kessie on free transfers, while other free agents like Memphis Depay have come and gone in recent years.

City was reportedly offering Gundogan only a one-year deal, whereas he wanted a longer contract for some security for his family.

He will go down as a City great, not just for being the captain in its greatest ever season but because of some of his crucial goals and performances in midfield, where he could play box-to-box, as an anchorman or — in his favored role — just behind the striker.

No goals were more important than his two to complete City's late comeback from 2-0 down against Aston Villa on the final day of the 2021-22 season, winning the team another league title.

After joining from Borussia Dortmund, where he was a Bundesliga champion in 2012, Gundogan won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four English League Cups and the Champions League with City.

"He has played a huge part in the successes we have enjoyed in recent seasons and Ilkay's intelligence, leadership and commitment to the club — both on and off the field — has been an inspiration to everyone," City director of football Txiki Begiristain said.

Barca won the Spanish league last season but failed for a second straight campaign to reach the Champions League knockout stage. And with Real Madrid signing coveted midfielder Jude Bellingham, Gundogan's arrival could hardly be more timely for Barca.

Agencies via Xinhua