Kovacic plays defense too, and is 100% effort.
He is not - never has been and never will be - good at finishing plays, he just doesn't have the instincts when to run into empty pockets of space like a Pogba or someone... But if you need control from your own box to the opposition box, there's very few better.
Plus, in Pep's system, he should fit right in in place of Gundogan.
I think it's a win-win move for City AND for Kovacic.
TBH, if it was clear he was moving on, I don't know why Liverpool wasn't all over him as well, he'd fit Klopp's system (tbh, he'd fit any system, he's that good). PSG too. Not sure about Bayern, their midfield seems pretty well equipped for what they want to do.
He was lowkey carrying our NT with Gvardiol in the WC, with Modric 38 and Brozovic battling injury at the time.