Donnarumma’s Transition to Manchester City: Expectations and Challenges

While Gianluigi Donnarumma’s talent as a goalkeeper is widely recognized, concerns about his distribution capabilities have led to speculation regarding Pep Guardiola’s commitment to signing him after Manchester City was linked with the player during the summer.

Ultimately, City finalized a £26 million ($35 million) transfer for the 26-year-old, who became surplus to requirements at Paris Saint-Germain despite playing a pivotal role in helping the team secure their first Champions League title. PSG decided to place their trust in Lucas Chevalier, who made a €40 million (£34.5 million/$47 million) move, partly due to his superior distribution skills.

To accommodate Donnarumma, City transferred Ederson to Fenerbahce for £10 million ($12 million). Ederson is widely regarded as one of the best passers among goalkeepers in world football.

Given Guardiola’s history of favoring keepers known for their passing ability—most notably signing Claudio Bravo to replace Joe Hart soon after taking over at City in 2016—his decision to recruit Donnarumma raised some eyebrows. However, Guardiola recently expressed confidence in his new number one, asserting that Donnarumma deserves more recognition than he currently receives.

In a pre-match press conference prior to City’s FA Cup match against Exeter City, Guardiola stated: “Donnarumma is really, really good in the tempo for the short passes. He cannot shoot the long pass like Ederson, but no other keeper has that Ederson pass. However, Gigio excels in composure, first touch, decision-making, and short passing; he’s much better than people think.”

Concerns regarding Donnarumma’s passing ability were anticipated, especially given the emphasis on build-up play in Guardiola’s systems and Ederson’s exceptional ball skills. A statistical comparison from last season reveals a notable disparity: Ederson attempted considerably more passes (31.7 vs. 23.4 per 90 minutes) in the 2024/25 season, along with a higher volume of long balls (9.4 vs. 6) and greater accuracy (57.92% vs. 44.6%) than Donnarumma did in his final season in France.

Since joining City, Donnarumma has not been tasked with as much ball distribution as his predecessor, averaging 25.5 passes per game. Nevertheless, his prowess as a traditional shot-stopper is well-established, evidenced by a 71.7% save percentage in the Premier League this season.

Guardiola clearly maintains faith in Donnarumma despite lingering questions regarding his disciplinary record and passing ability. The manager refrained from criticizing the goalkeeper after he received four yellow cards in his first ten league matches and acted as a peacemaker during a recent altercation in a 1-1 draw against Sunderland.

As City continues their title chase, currently sitting six points behind Arsenal in the Premier League, they will rely on the 26-year-old to showcase his goalkeeping excellence. However, for the upcoming FA Cup third-round match against Exeter City, Donnarumma will begin on the bench, with James Trafford stepping in as the starter.