Ilkay Gundogan is full of pride becoming a Barcelona player.

The former Manchester City enjoyed his signing ceremony on Monday.

He said: "I am very happy, positive and proud to be part of this club. As a teenager I watched all the Barça games, with Rijkaard and Guardiola. I thank you, President, Vice President, Mateu Alemany, Jordi Cruyff, Deco ... I can't wait for my first training, my first game ... I want to keep winning and we have a very good team. Visca Barça "Thank you all, also Xavi. From the first moment we spoke, I felt it was the right thing to come here. It will be a challenge, everything will be new, but I hope to adapt to a new team and a new country. I have a lot to demonstrate and I will help the team to raise the level. The mix between young and veteran, all with quality, is key.

"Watching Barça for the past two decades has been a privilege. Since I was young, it was a dream to come to Barça. I've been close to coming a few times, but finally, now I can be a Barça player.

"Individually, there is not much time to adapt and the challenge is to do it as soon as possible, I have the qualities for it. It is a process in which many factors intervene. Collectively, everything we can match or overcome from last year has no discussion. Go as far as possible in the Champions League. It will be tough, but the challenges are always welcome. We are ready for it.

"The game ideas are very clear and similar to those of City. The style of play is similar between Xavi and Guardiola. The way he plays is similar, too, to mine. It was not so much what he told me, but how. We had a very fast connection."

Gundogan will also be reunited with his former Borussia Dortmund teammate Robert Lewandowski.

"I spoke to him in a match between Germany and Poland. His eyes sparkled when he spoke of the club and the city. It didn't take much to convince me, but it was a talk that helped me. Also with (Marc-Andre) Ter Stegen. My decision was pretty clear to come here."