Manchester City have completed the signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth around €30million (£25.9m). The Italy No 1’s move to the Etihad Stadium follows the departure of Ederson, who joined Fenerbahce for about €14million (£12.1m).
Donnarumma signs a contract that runs until 2030, with the option of a further year. He arrives alongside James Trafford, who returned to City from Burnley earlier this summer after City activated a clause to seal his transfer. Stefan Ortega and Marcus Bettinelli remain in Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad, giving City a wealth of goalkeeping options for the season ahead.
“I am joining a squad packed with world-class talent and a team led by one of the greatest managers in the history of football,” Donnarumma said on the move. “This is a club every player in world football would love to join. I cannot wait to meet my new teammates, the staff and the fans. Playing at the Etihad Stadium will be very, very special for me. I am very excited for what lies ahead and I can promise that I will give absolutely everything to try and help the Club achieve even more success.”
Donnarumma’s summer also included a high-profile omission from Luis Enrique’s PSG squad for the European Super Cup win over Tottenham, with the coach later explaining they were seeking a different goalkeeping profile. The 26-year-old’s recent records include 161 appearances for PSG and 56 clean sheets, 74 senior Italy caps and a crucial role in PSG’s run to last season’s Champions League final, despite a facial injury in December.
The switch marks a shift in City’s goalkeeping landscape following Ederson’s long stint as first choice since 2017. Ederson’s City career has been decorated: 372 appearances, 168 clean sheets, six Premier League titles in eight seasons, and the club’s first-ever Champions League triumph in 2023.
Analysis on Donnarumma’s fit at City
Donnarumma’s standout shot-stopping and ability to command aerial situations were pivotal for PSG, even shining in the Champions League knockout phase. Yet Guardiola’s preferences place a premium on a goalkeeper who is equally adept with the feet as with the hands. Donnarumma’s distribution has often skewed shorter and safer, a style that contrasts with Ederson’s more adventurous, spread passes and line-breaking distribution.
City will therefore look for an immediate adaptation from Donnarumma to the club’s ball-playing philosophy. It’s a challenge that Guardiola has warned about in the past: the system is non-negotiable, and the goalkeeper must fit into the blueprint rather than redefine it.
The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell notes that Donnarumma brings experience and presence to a defence that has looked unsettled at times this season. He could form a dependable spine alongside a young contingent in Trafford and Ortega, with Bettinelli providing further depth. Donnarumma’s ball-playing limitations are part of the reason for Enrique’s pursuit of a different profile; the question for City is how quickly he can evolve to meet Guardiola’s demands without compromising the team’s build-up play.
What this means for City
– A seasoned, big-game goalkeeper arrives to add leadership and reliability.
– The competition for the No 1 spot will intensify between Donnarumma, Trafford, Ortega, and Bettinelli, potentially accelerating growth for the younger options.
– City’s core philosophy will require Donnarumma to adapt his distribution and decision-making under pressure to align with Guardiola’s possession-based approach.
Summary
Manchester City have bolstered their goalkeeping depth with Donnarumma, a World Cup-winning-caliber stopper who will bring experience and prestige to the squad. While his on-ball distribution represents a shift from Ederson’s style, the move signals City’s intent to maintain elite standards in goal while nurturing a broader, deeper pool of options. The coming months will reveal how quickly Donnarumma acclimates to Guardiola’s exacting system and how effectively City can integrate him into their play from the back.
Overall, a positive development for City as they look to sustain domestic dominance and push further in Europe, with Donnarumma aiming to settle quickly and deliver high-level performances at the Etihad.