Gianluigi Donnarumma joins Man City – What will the Italian bring to the Premier League?

Champions League winner ©IMAGO Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, with Ederson joining Turkish Süper Lig side Fenerbahce. The Italian was instrumental in PSG’s Champions League triumph last season, and the 26-year-old is the joint most valuable goalkeeper in the world at €40 million. Donnarumma was left out of Luis Enrique’s squad for the European Super Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur in Udine in August. Enrique has previously revealed the club had wanted a “different goalkeeping profile” and signed France international Lucas Chevalier from Lille. “These are always difficult decisions to make,” Luis Enrique said of the decision to omit Donnarumma. “Gigio is one of the best players in his position, but we’re looking for a goalkeeping profile different from Donnarumma.” Brazil international Ederson, who has been one of the greatest goalkeeper’s in Man City’s history but he’s moved to Fenerbahce in a potential deal worth around €14million over the closing hours of the summer window. Ederson joined City in June 2017 from Portuguese side Benfica. He has made 372 appearances for the club, keeping 168 clean sheets, and enjoyed a glittering career in the north west. Donnarumma joins as the second new goalkeeper at the Etihad this season, after the Sky Blues bought back James Trafford from Burnley earlier in the window. What will Gianluigi Donnarumma bring to Manchester City? Last season, Donnarumma saved two penalties in PSG’s Champions League round of 16 victory against Liverpool. At the start of last season, he had struggled slightly and even lost his place in the starting XI, but finished the campaign as one of the best performing goalkeepers on the continent.In total, he has made 161 total appearances for the Paris club since his arrival, keeping 56 clean sheets. Last season he played 47 times including every Club World Cup game as PSG reached the final in the summer. The 26-year-old joined PSG in 2021 from AC Milan, having been at the Italian side since 2013 as a youth player. Joachim Durand is Transfermarkt’s Ligue 1 expert in France, and explains more about why PSG are allowing the Italian to leave the club: “I would say there are three main reasons for Donnarumma’s departure. First, technically speaking, the Italian is an excellent shot-stopper on his line, but Enrique has wanted a goalkeeper with better footwork for several years. That’s why PSG signed Chevalier. Secondly, even though Gigi was instrumental in PSG’s success last season (particularly against Liverpool and Aston Villa), he also had some slip-ups in important matches (Real Madrid in 2022). This may have left its mark. And finally, there is the question of his contract extension, which is undoubtedly linked to the second point. Indeed, when PSG offered big contracts to Hakimi and Mendes to keep them, it was more reluctant to do so for Donnarumma, particularly because of his past mistakes.” Despite being only 26, which is relatively young for a keeper, Donnrumma joins City with a wealth of experience. He has already made as many as 74 senior international caps for Italy since making his debut at 17 years old in 2017. He captained the national side to their European Championship win in 2021, beating England in the final on penalties and earning the Player of the Tournament award after saving three spot-kicks in the final. Donnarumma has been known to have some off-the field issues during his career, and appears a fairly outspoken character. His ability at playing out with his feet has been questioned, but City are undoubtedly signing one of the best shot-stoppers in Europe. But replacing Ederson will be on mean feat.