It is time for pundits and analysts to evaluate Gianluigi Donnarumma’s performance at Manchester City since he officially joined the club on 2 September 2025.
He signed from Paris Saint-Germain for a reported transfer fee of £26 million (€30 million) and penned a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium, set to run until the summer of 2030.
Softfootball however believes his performances at City have come under scrutiny. Donnarumma was brought in to replace James Trafford, who joined Manchester City from Burnley on 29 July 2025. While Donnarumma arrived to be the long-term successor to Ederson, Trafford was signed specifically to bolster the goalkeeper position earlier in the summer.
Donnarumma appears to have cost City points; in a 1-1 draw against West Ham, he misjudged a cross, allowing Konstantinos Mavropanos to score an open-goal in the 35th minute.
City also sought to strengthen the squad with additional signings. On 19 January 2026, Marc Guéhi joined from Crystal Palace for an initial transfer fee of £20 million (€23 million) plus add-ons, signing a five-and-a-half-year contract through summer 2031.
Earlier in the month, Manchester City signed Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth on 9 January 2026, the club’s first acquisition of the January window.
Despite these efforts, the new signings and Donnarumma’s presence have yet to make a measurable impact on Manchester City’s performances, raising questions about the team’s strategy in goalkeeping and defense.
