Deadline day drama surrounds Manchester City’s goalkeeping plans as the club weigh an exit for Ederson if they can land Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain before the transfer window closes on Monday. PSG are reportedly preparing for Donnarumma to move to the Etihad Stadium, a move that would represent a dramatic shift for City’s long-serving first-choice keeper.
Ederson has been a pillar for City since joining from Benfica in 2017, making 372 appearances and keeping 168 clean sheets. He has helped the club secure six Premier League titles and their first Champions League triumph in 2023. The Brazil international’s potential exit to Turkish giants Fenerbahce is being discussed for around €14 million (£12.1m) in the closing hours of the window, a transfer that would leave City weighing a goalkeeper overhaul at a critical juncture.
If a deal for Donnarumma goes through, he would join a City squad already planning for a new-look goalkeeping department this summer. He would follow James Trafford, the England Under-21 international who arrived from Burnley in July, into contention for the number one shirt. Donnarumma’s position at PSG has been the subject of ongoing speculation after Luis Enrique suggested the club were seeking a different goalkeeping profile, with France international Lucas Chevalier signed from Lille this summer as part of that shift.
Donnarumma’s footballing form has had its highs and lows. Last season he saved two penalties in PSG’s Champions League round of 16 win over Liverpool as the French club advanced to their first European Cup final, a notable response after earlier league setbacks that raised questions about his consistency. In total for PSG, the 26-year-old has made 161 appearances with 56 clean sheets. He played 47 times in the most recent season, including every Club World Cup match as PSG reached the final, despite suffering a facial injury in December. The Italian goalkeeper joined PSG in 2021 from AC Milan, where he spent his entire youth career, and has earned 74 senior caps for Italy since his debut at 17. He captained the national team to their delayed Euro 2020 title and was named Player of the Tournament after the final.
For City, landing Donnarumma would be a bold statement of intent as they navigate a potential departure for Ederson. The move would also reflect a broader pattern around Europe’s top clubs positioning their goalkeeping options to match evolving tactical needs and the rising value of elite shot-stoppers. If the deal does happen, it could usher in a new era of competition and depth in City’s goalkeeping ranks, while PSG recalibrates their squad with a fresh profile between the posts.
What this means for City and PSG is still very much up in the air as the deadline approaches. A transfer for Donnarumma would align with City’s history of strategic shifts and could accelerate changes elsewhere in the squad, while Ederson’s potential exit would mark a significant change in the club’s goalkeeping lineage. Fans can expect a flurry of developments as the clock winds down on transfer deadline day.
Summary: The day’s biggest storyline centers on Manchester City’s willingness to part with Ederson if Gianluigi Donnarumma can be secured from PSG, with Donnarumma’s arrival signaling a potential shift in City’s goalkeeping approach. Ederson’s proposed move to Fenerbahce adds another layer of drama, and Donnarumma’s availability continues to be shaped by PSG’s evolving strategy and Luis Enrique’s pursuit of a different goalkeeper profile. If completed, it would mark a bold around-the-clock reshaping of a key position for both clubs.