İlkay Gündoğan

İlkay Gündoğan Basic Information

Stage Name:	İlkay Gündoğan
Real Name:	İlkay Gündoğan
Occupation:	Professional Footballer and Businessman
Date Of Birth/Age:	24 October 1990 (33 Years Old)
Place of Birth:	Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia
Gender:	Male
Nationality:	Turkish-German
Marital Status:	Married
Education:	VfL Bochum Academy
Height:	5Ft 8In
Net Worth:	$25 M

İlkay Gündoğan Biography

Ilkay Gündoğan was born on 24 October 1990, in Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, to parents of Turkish descent. His grandfather, a guest worker, relocated from Balıkesir, Turkey, to the Ruhr region of Germany to work as a miner. His wife and children stayed in Turkey, where they attended school and grew up. In 1979, Gündoğan’s father joined the rest of the family in Germany through a family unification program.

Since he was young, Gündoğan has displayed exceptional skill and enthusiasm for football. He kick-started his journey in the sport at VfL Bochum and swiftly climbed up the ladder, drawing recruiters’ interest from bigger teams.

Family

Parents

The legendary Man City player was born in Gelsenkirchen to parents of Turkish descent, Mr. Irfan Gundogan and Ayten Gundogan.

Siblings

Gündoğan is known to keep his personal life private, so his exact number of siblings is uncertain. However, it is confirmed that he has a supportive brother named Ilker Gündogan, who has been by his side throughout his career. Additionally, he is related to Turkish volleyball player Naz Aydemir as her cousin.

Children

The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Kias.

Wife

Gündoğan recently tied the knot with his partner and model, Sara Arfaoui, after ending his previous relationship with actress Sila Sahin in 2015. Sila made history by being the first Turkish woman to feature in Playboy Magazine.

Lifestyle

Gündoğan began his professional career in 2008, playing for VfL Bochum’s first team in the 2. Bundesliga. His exceptional performances caught the attention of 1—FC Nürnberg, leading him to join the club in 2009. While at Nürnberg, Gündoğan proved a vital asset to the team’s midfield.

In 2011, Gündoğan took a significant step in his career and joined Borussia Dortmund, considered one of Germany’s best clubs back then. With the guidance of Jurgen Klopp, Gündoğan thrived as a midfielder, displaying his remarkable passing skills, intelligence, and flexibility, which significantly contributed to Dortmund’s triumphs in both the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League.

Ilkay Gündoğan made a significant career move in June 2016, transferring from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City after five successful seasons. He signed a contract worth £29,120,000 for four years with an annual salary of £7,280,000. The move reunited him with former Bayern manager Pep Guardiola, who played a crucial role in bringing him to Manchester City. NGündoğan’sumerous accomplishments, including multiple Premier League titles, a Champions League title, FA Cups, and League Cups, have marked Gündoğan’s time at the English club. It’s worth noting that he also served as the team’s captain.

During the 2023 FA Cup final against Manchester United, Gündoğan scored the fastest goal ever within 12 seconds with a remarkable long-range volley. City went on to win the match with a 2-1 victory, with Gündoğan scoring the second goal using another impressive volley. His exceptional performance earned him high praise from journalist Phil McNulty, who described him as “magnificent.” He was also voted as man of the match by readers of BBC Sport. Later, Gündoğan led his team to victory in the Champions League final against Inter Milan, winning 1-0 and making history as the first captain to lift the European Cup for his club.

İlkay Gündoğan has been a valuable asset to the German national team in international competitions, serving as a representative and captain. Since his debut in 2011, he has showcased his abilities and become a crucial player for the squad. Gündoğan’s contributions to major events like the UEFA European Championship and the FIFA World Cup have been significant, and his skill and experience have helped the team succeed.

Gündoğan has also been plagued by injuries that have hampered some of his season’s playing time at the clubs he has been in, especially at the city. The two-footed player is highly regarded for exceptional technical abilities, vision, and remarkable game-reading skills. As a midfielder, he boasts an outstanding passing range, allowing him to distribute the ball efficiently and effectively create scoring opportunities for his fellow players.

Additionally, he is a skilled goal scorer, frequently hitting the back of the net with pinpoint accuracy from beyond the box. During his professional journey, Gündoğan has earned several prestigious awards and recognitions. He has secured several league titles, domestic cups, and personal accolades, establishing himself as one of the most exceptional midfielders of his time.

Net Worth

It’s estimated that İlkay Gündoğan has a net worth of over $25 million, which he has earned through his successful football career, endorsements, and sponsorships.

Cars

The famous football player is a devoted fan of Mercedes Benz and reportedly possesses more than four different models, including the luxurious G Class and high-performance AMG. It’s been noted that he drives a Nissan to train and other vehicles.

House

He has homes in Germany and Manchester and will be planning to acquire another one in Barcelona following his move to Spain.

Nationality

He is German by nationality but also is proud of his Turkish Roots.

In May 2018, Gündoğan, along with Mesut Özil and Cenk Tosun, who are also England-based, German-born players of Turkish descent, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in London. Gündoğan received criticism for referring to Erdoğan as “my president” despite not being a “Turkish citizen.” This incident sparked political controversy in Germany, and during his next game for the national team, Gündoğan was jeered by German fans.

Contract

Sources have confirmed that Barcelona has agreed with Manchester City to sign Ilkay Gundogan as a free agent on 30 June, when his contract expires.