Man City’s pursuit of superstar goalkeeper progresses with fee agreed

Donnarumma, 26, has been PSG’s No. 1 since arriving from AC Milan in 2021, but the Champions League holders are prepared to sanction his departure with one year remaining on his current deal.

The French club has already secured Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier in a deal worth around €40m plus add-ons, ensuring cover is in place should Donnarumma leave. The Italy international is also understood to be open to the move, with personal terms agreed in principle.

City’s progress, however, is contingent on the future of Ederson. The Brazilian has been a cornerstone of Pep Guardiola’s side since 2017, winning six Premier League titles, the Champions League and numerous domestic trophies. 

Galatasaray is currently in talks to sign him, with an opening bid of around €10M ($11.6M) lodged. City is expected to demand closer to €25M ($29M) before approving a deal.

How quickly Donnarumma is unveiled as a City player will depend on those negotiations. While the pursuit is said to be “progressing,” officials remain cautious until Ederson’s situation is resolved.

From a tactical standpoint, Donnarumma represents a shift. At 6-foot-5, his presence and shot-stopping qualities are well known, but unlike Ederson, he is not regarded as an elite distributor. 

Guardiola’s build-up play has long relied on the Brazilian’s ability with the ball at his feet, raising questions about how the manager might adapt should the change go through. 

Those questions grew louder after James Trafford’s costly error in City’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, a mistake that highlighted the club’s vulnerability in goal despite Trafford’s big-money summer arrival.

Donnarumma’s pedigree, though, is beyond doubt. He has earned more than 70 caps for Italy, won Euro 2020 as Player of the Tournament and played a key role in multiple title-winning campaigns at both Milan and PSG. 

His addition would rank among the summer’s most notable transfers, reinforcing City’s intent to refresh its squad while maintaining dominance at the top of English and European football.

For now, everything hinges on Ederson. But with PSG willing to sell and Donnarumma eager to join, City look increasingly well-placed to secure another marquee signing for Guardiola’s side.