Manchester City has finalized a significant £26 million deal to acquire Italian international goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain.
Donnarumma to Man City: Italian Goalkeeper Signs Five-Year Deal
The 26-year-old shot-stopper has committed to a five-year contract with the Premier League champions, marking a substantial shift in the club’s goalkeeping department.
The transfer comes as part of a double move that sees longtime City goalkeeper Ederson depart for Turkish side Fenerbahce in a £12.1 million deal.
Ederson’s exit concludes an illustrious eight-year tenure at the Etihad Stadium during which he established himself as fundamental to Pep Guardiola’s system.
The Brazilian was instrumental in City’s unprecedented success, including their historic treble-winning season in 2022-23 and their remarkable run of four consecutive Premier League titles from 2021 to 2024.
Donnarumma arrives in Manchester after falling out of favor with PSG coach Luis Enrique, despite having played a crucial role in the French club’s Champions League triumph last season.
The Italian international found himself displaced as first-choice goalkeeper following PSG’s acquisition of Lucas Chevalier earlier this summer, making his departure from Paris inevitable.
At City, Donnarumma will immediately compete for the starting position with 22-year-old James Trafford, who rejoined the club from Burnley earlier this summer.
Trafford has started City’s first three Premier League matches of the season but faced criticism for his performance in the recent 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
The timing of these moves creates particular intrigue ahead of City’s first match after the international break—a highly anticipated derby against Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium on September 14.
Both Manchester clubs could feature new first-choice goalkeepers for this fixture, with United having secured 23-year-old Senne Lammens on transfer deadline day.
This goalkeeping transition represents one of the most significant changes to City’s squad in recent seasons, potentially altering the defensive dynamics that have been so successful under Guardiola’s leadership.
The manager evidently believes Donnarumma’s experience at both club and international level—having been Italy’s first-choice goalkeeper since his teenage years—makes him ideally suited to maintain City’s exceptionally high standards.
The club plans to officially announce both transfers on Tuesday, following the completion of medical examinations and final paperwork.
