Manchester City have completed the signing of Geronimo Rulli from Marseille on a two-year deal, adding an experienced goalkeeper to their squad behind Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The move is understood to be worth £1.7m and comes as City reshape their goalkeeping options. Rulli arrives as the replacement for James Trafford, giving the club a veteran presence and another experienced option in a role that often goes unnoticed until it suddenly matters.
Why Rulli fits City
Rulli, 34, brings a career that has taken him through Real Sociedad, Montpellier and Ajax, along with experience in the Champions League and Europa League. That background matters for a club that expects its backup goalkeeper to stay ready, even if opportunities are limited.
He also has a record of rising to big occasions. In 2021, Rulli scored a penalty in Villarreal's Europa League final victory over Manchester United and then denied David de Gea in the shootout. He was later part of Argentina's World Cup-winning squad in 2022 and Copa America-winning squad in 2024, before reaching the World Cup final in 2026.
Rulli's comments on the move reflected the size of the opportunity. He described it as an amazing chance and said that when Manchester City comes along, you have to go for it. He also pointed to the club's high standards and said he is looking forward to improving and learning in a high-performance environment.
What it means for Donnarumma
For Donnarumma, the signing gives Manchester City a more proven No. 2 behind him. Rulli is not arriving to challenge for the starter's role, but to provide security, experience and depth over the next two seasons.
That is a practical addition for City. Goalkeepers rarely stay out of the spotlight for long, and a club competing on multiple fronts needs a backup who has been trusted in major matches before. Rulli has now done that at club and international level, and City will hope that experience translates quickly at the Etihad Stadium.
