Man City sign Donnarumma as Ederson joins Fenerbahce

2 days ago 1

Manchester City have signed goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain in a £26m deal.

The 26-year-old Italy international has penned a five-year deal with the option of a further year.

Donnarumma, who will wear the No 99 shirt, becomes Man City's seventh and final summer signing, taking their total spend to £185.8m, and will replace Ederson after his move to Fenerbahce was confirmed on Tuesday morning.

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Ederson, 32, has joined the Turkish giants in a deal worth around £12m following eight trophy-laden years at the club, winning 18 major honours under Pep Guardiola, including six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and a Champions League.

The Brazilian played 372 times for Man City and kept 168 clean sheets, winning the Golden Glove award three times.

Ederson said: "I leave incredibly proud of what we have achieved together, and I am honoured to have worn the shirt so many times.

"Under (head coach) Pep (Guardiola), we have dominated the Premier League and conquered Europe. It has been amazing.

"I arrived in Manchester eight years ago full of hope, but I could not have predicted such a beautiful time together.

"Playing for City has been the most special time of my life and I will always be a fan of this special club."

James Trafford, a summer recruit from Burnley, has started all of Man City's league games so far this season, but Donnarumma is expected to be installed as City's new number one.

Donnarumma was left out of Luis Enrique's PSG squad for the European Super Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur in Udine in August, having helped win the Champions League last season. He made 161 appearances in total after joining from AC Milan in 2021 and kept 56 clean sheets.

Akanji joins Inter on loan

Manuel Akanji is challenged by Eberechi Eze

Meanwhile, a loan deal for City defender Manuel Akanji to Inter Milan was also confirmed on Tuesday morning.

Inter confirmed there is an option to make the transfer permanent, which will become an obligation if certain conditions are met.

Sky in Italy are reporting that the loan fee is £900,000 (€1m) and the obligation to buy is £13m (€15m).

AC Milan and Crystal Palace had earlier expressed an interest in Akanji, who joined City in September 2022.

The defender was a key component of the side that won the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup treble in 2023, and the team which won the domestic title again in 2024.

Merson: Donnarumma will be out of comfort zone at Man City

Sky Sports News' Paul Merson on Donnarumma:

"I want my goalkeeper to make saves. I don't think Pep Guardiola does. And that's the problem. I thought he was going to Man Utd and then it's a different kettle of fish there - it's stopping the goals going in.

"But the goalkeeper plays a huge part in how Man City play. We saw it the other day with James Trafford trying to play out against Tottenham. Gianluigi Donnarumma will have to play out.

"Even though Donnarumma's a top goalkeeper, he's going to be completely out of his comfort zone playing out from the back every week.

"When you're playing out from the back, you've got to know everything. You've got to know what your best foot is on the player you're playing with. The midfield player who's coming short. What foot to put it on. There's a lot."

Laurens: 'Not a Guardiola goalkeeper'

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Speaking on the Transfer Talk Podcast, Julien Laurens explains why Donnarumma might not be the right choice for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City

French football expert Julien Laurens:

"Is he [Donnarumma] the right fit for Manchester City? The answer is:100 per cent, he isn't.

"On saves, him and Thibaut Courtois, there are no goalkeepers better, maybe that is enough for Guardiola to say he wants him.

"But to play for Guardiola you have to be good with your feet. If you're not good with the ball at your feet, you are not a Guardiola goalkeeper.

"His distribution is not good enough for a Guardiola team. And his other weakness is he does not come for the ball in the air, he doesn't like coming for crosses and corners.

"If there is one league in the world where you have to be brave like that, it's the Premier League. I cannot see how Guardiola thinks, 'this is the perfect guy for me'."

Neville: Man City's defence will give teams chances

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Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, the former Manchester United defender discusses whether Manchester City's back four are a cause for concern

Gary Neville, speaking on his Sky Sports podcast, says Manchester City's backline gives up too many chances and is putting pressure on their attackers.

"I didn't think James Trafford was the problem today," he said, reflecting on City's 2-1 loss at Brighton on Super Sunday.

"I thought he looked a little bit startled against Tottenham. In fact he made a world-class save [at Brighton].

"When City were 1-0 up two or three years ago you could almost write the game off. They keep the ball, pop it around, suffocate teams with possession and eventually the team would have to do something and they would either see out a 1-0 win or they'd go and win two and three.

"That's not this Manchester City now because that's not a clean-sheet back four anymore and it's giving teams a chance. It's giving teams encouragement which means it puts pressure on the midfield and the forwards to score two and three."