Ilkay Gündoğan Scouting Report 2024/25: How His Return Is Transforming Man City’s Midfield

For the 2024/25 Premier League season, İlkay Gündoğan has made a return to Manchester City, bringing his quality and intelligence both in the build-up phase and by making attacking runs to create opportunities for his teammates.

With Rodri out for the season due to an ACL injury, Gündoğan is expected to step into this crucial build-up role.

This tactical analysis reveals how his deep-lying playmaking skills and ability to control the tempo add a new dimension to Citys midfield tactics.

This scout report will use key statistics to assess how Gündoğan has influenced Manchester Citys performances and tactical setup so far this season.

What Position Is İlkay Gündoğan Playing At Man City?

Ilkay Gündoğan is a very special player, capable of playing as a 6, 8, or 10, making him a complete midfielder; although he isn’t a defensively-minded player when playing as a 6, he takes on a deep-lying playmaker role similar to Andrea Pirlo or Toni Kroos—two great examples.

As an 8, Gündoğan thrives the most.

He drops into the 6 to support when needed, but being higher up the field allows him to make late runs into the penalty box or central forward runs, which create space for his striker as the oppositions defensive line struggles to handle both of them.

In that 8 role, he can also adapt to playing as an advanced playmaker, similar to a 10.

Gündoğan doesn’t just stick to the role of a 10 or a 6—his ability and intelligence to roam as an 8 allow him to occupy both positions when necessary.

This versatility is what makes him so valuable to Manchester City and why he was equally valued at Barcelona.

İlkay Gündoğan Player Profile & Radar Chart

Ilkay Gündoğans player radar chart shows an analysis of his performances from the 2023/24 season at Barcelona, where he played 3131 minutes.

In terms of attacking, Gündoğan ranks very high in passes per 90 (97.9), dangerous passes per 90 (77.53), and touches in the opposition penalty area per 90 (19.6).

His goal contributions per 90 (73.7) and expected goal contribution (52.75) further emphasise his offensive abilities, showing how his deep-lying playmaking also contributes to the final third.

From a possession/passing standpoint, Gündoğan excels, with progressive passes per 90 (63.05) and received passes per 90 (97.4), showcasing his ability to maintain control and dictate the flow of the game.

His accurate pass percentage (97.9) also highlights his precision and intelligence in possession.

While Gündoğan style of play isn’t a pure defensive midfielder, he still shows some strength with defensive duels won (82.8) and aerial duels per 90 (65.6).

The radar chart illustrates Gündoğan’s well-rounded ability, especially in possession and attacking phases, making him a valuable player.

İlkay Gündoğan Heat Map

In Gündoğans heatmap for this season, we can see he’s primarily taking on the 8 role, frequently dropping into the 6 zone on the left side of the pitch.

However, when it comes to attacking play, there’s intensity across the width of the entire pitch, with particularly high activity in the opponents penalty box on the right side, where he makes central runs alongside Erling Haaland.