Key Points
- Manchester City have agreed a €2m deal with Marseille for goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.
- Rulli replaces James Trafford, sold to Leeds this week in a deal worth up to £45m.
- The 34-year-old arrives as a low-cost understudy to Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The latest:
Manchester City have agreed a €2million deal with Marseille for Argentinian goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, 34, identified as the replacement for James Trafford after his move to Leeds. It is Rulli’s second signing by City, a decade after his first.
Details:
- The first spell: Rulli joined City 10 years ago from Deportivo Maldonado but never played, going on loan to Real Sociedad before a permanent 2017 move.
- The career path: Spells at Villarreal, Ajax and Marseille followed. He made 73 appearances in two seasons in France, helping Marseille finish second in Ligue 1 in 2024-25.
- The Argentina record: Capped eight times, Rulli was back-up to Emiliano Martinez during Argentina’s run to this summer’s World Cup final and did not play a minute.
- The Trafford exit: Trafford’s Leeds move came partly from unhappiness at City signing Donnarumma soon after his own arrival, according to The Athletic. He wanted regular Premier League football.
- The timing: Rulli joins the squad when City return from their pre-season tour of Hong Kong and South Korea next week.
Background:
City also re-signed academy goalkeeper Pierce Charles from Sheffield Wednesday earlier this summer. He will spend the 2026-27 season on loan at Queens Park Rangers.
Between the lines:
The Athletic assesses the low fee as confirmation Rulli is a traditional back-up rather than a rival to Donnarumma — experienced, familiar to the club, and suited to playing out from the back. He will also work with compatriot and former City goalkeeper Willy Caballero, part of Enzo Maresca’s staff.
What’s next
World Cup returnees are expected at their first session under Maresca on Wednesday, with an open training session Thursday. City are also ready to replace Rodri if he completes a Barcelona move.
