“It’s time to put an end to this.”

Ilkay Gundogan, the Barcelona player who is in the eye of the storm due to the possibility of his departure, announced the end of his career with the German national team.

“After a few weeks of reflection, I have come to the conclusion that it is time to end my career with the national team,” Gundogan said on social media.

The midfielder has played 82 international matches, scoring 19 goals and providing 7 assists. In recent matches he has worn the captain’s armband for the Mannschaft.

“I am proud of the 82 matches I played with my country’s national team, a number I could not have dreamed of when I participated for the first time in 2011,” he added.

Gundogan added that the highlight of his international career was being captain during the last European Championship.

“After many years we were finally able to make the nation proud again. My contribution as a leader makes me happy,” he said.

Gundogan missed the 2014 World Cup through injury, meaning he could not be crowned world champion with Germany.

Dear German Football:

After a few weeks of thinking about it, I made the decision that it was time to end my career with the national team.

I look back with great pride and see 82 caps for my country, a number I could never have imagined when I made my first-team debut in 2011.

Obviously the highlight was the great honour of being able to lead the team as captain at the European Championships on home soil last summer! After all these years, we have finally made the nation proud again; the fact that I was able to be a part of that makes me very happy.

But even before the tournament I felt a bit tired in my body and in my head too, which made me think. And the matches at club and national team level are not lacking.

I will definitely remain a fan of this national team and I really hope that the upward trend will continue together, and then nothing will stop us from being one of the closest contenders for the 2026 World Cup title. A great coach, a really strong team and a great team spirit.

Thank you to all the fans, staff, coaches and teammates who have accompanied me on this journey.

It was an honor!

Thank you Germany!