The curious case of Pep Guardiola's new Manchester City goalkeepers

For nearly a decade, Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has enjoyed rare stability at one of the game’s most scrutinized positions: goalkeeper.

Former Man City goalkeeper Ederson had calmness in possession, and his ability to launch attacks from deep made him the prototype of a Guardiola shot blocker. With the Brazilian completing a £12M ($16M) move to Fenerbahce after eight trophy-laden years, though, Manchester City now face the unfamiliar challenge of a goalkeeping reset.

Replacing Ederson is no easy task. In 276 Premier League appearances, he kept 122 clean sheets, won six league titles and a Champions League crown and collected countless domestic trophies. More than the hardware, it was his distribution and composure that underscored City’s dominance.

Against that backdrop, the arrivals of Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford have raised as many questions as they have provided answers.

Donnarumma joins from Paris Saint-Germain in a £26M ($34.7M) deal with an undeniable pedigree. A European champion with Italy and a Champions League winner, he is regarded as one of the world’s finest shot-stoppers. 

However, doubts persist over his suitability for Guardiola’s system. The Italian has long faced criticism for his footwork, while his passing range and decision-making under pressure lag behind Ederson’s elite standards. 

For Guardiola, who demands his goalkeeper act as an auxiliary playmaker, that could mean tactical compromise if Donnarumma becomes the clear No. 1.

Trafford, by contrast, represents promise and risk in equal measure. The 22-year-old returned from Burnley this summer via a £31M ($41.4M) buy-back clause, fresh from a record-matching 29 clean sheets in the Championship. 

Guardiola initially trusted him with starts, but the results were mixed. He produced sharp saves and showed calmness in spells, yet costly errors, most notably a misplaced pass in defeat to Tottenham and a misjudged charge off his line against Brighton, exposed his inexperience. Both mistakes came in back-to-back early-season losses. 

Trafford’s readiness to anchor a title defence is far from assured, and Donnarumma’s arrival clearly underlines that concern.

"The way Pep likes to play and what has made them one of the most successful team in Premier League history circulates around the goalkeeper Ederson and his incredible control of the ball," Peter Schmeichel told BBC Radio 5 Live, via BBC Sport.

"We don't know the situation. Have they fallen out? Did Ederson ask to leave? Trafford has had an opportunity but no-one can play like Ederson.

"Donnarumma had a really good season with PSG and was instrumental in PSG winning the Champions League. He is OK with his feet but he is not Ederson — no-one is Ederson."

While Trafford offers stylistic continuity, his youth makes him unpredictable. Donnarumma brings world-class experience and reliability between the posts, but risks disrupting Guardiola’s finely tuned build-up play. For a manager whose legacy has been built on control, the uncertainty is striking.

Manchester City under Guardiola has rarely appeared vulnerable. But with Ederson gone and two imperfect solutions in his place, the goalkeeping conundrum ensures this season carries a new and intriguing subplot.