Gerónimo Rulli signs with Manchester City to back up Donnarumma

A World Cup winning goalkeeper is joining the Premier League to warm the bench, and that, of all things, is the most interesting part of the story. Gerónimo Rulli passed his medical in England and has already signed his contract as a new player for Manchester City.

The deal was finalized on Monday the 10th, when the goalkeeper who came up through Estudiantes de La Plata's youth ranks went through the medical tests that preceded the signing. The news caught no one off guard, really: the Friday before, journalist Esteban Edul had already reported on ESPN that the agreement was done.

Rulli will wear number 28 and arrives in Manchester to compete for playing time with Gianluigi Donnarumma, the undisputed starter for the team managed by Enzo Maresca. In other words, he is not coming in to be a starring figure. He is coming to push from the bench, bring experience, and be ready if the Italian needs a rest or if something goes wrong.

A transfer fee that won't break the bank

City is expected to pay around 3.5 million euros for the 34 year old goalkeeper, a modest figure for the club but one that fits what he represents: a depth signing, not a bet on the future. Rulli spent the last two seasons in Ligue 1 guarding the net for Olympique de Marseille, following stints at Ajax and Villarreal, the latter being the club where he lifted the Europa League in 2021, one of the high points of his career in Europe.

What's striking is that his resume with the Argentina jersey carries more weight than his recent run as a starter. Rulli has earned eight caps for the national team, but he was part of the squad that won the 2022 World Cup, reached the 2026 final, and also claimed the 2024 Copa America. Three major tournaments, three medals, though always behind Emiliano Martínez in Lionel Scaloni's pecking order.

Now he takes on another supporting role, this time at City. For a club competing on every front, having a goalkeeper with that kind of locker room pedigree, regardless of the minutes he logs, is no small thing when it comes to keeping things calm during the season's tougher stretches.