Manchester City have strengthened their goalkeeping department by completing a £2million deal for Argentine international Gerónimo Rulli from Marseille.
The experienced goalkeeper has signed a two-year contract that will keep him at the Etihad until 2028 and is expected to provide cover for first-choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The move marks a return to City for Rulli, who previously spent the 2016/17 season at the club. He did not make a first-team appearance during that spell but has since built a substantial career across European football.
The Argentine has played for clubs including Villarreal, Ajax and Marseille, gaining experience in domestic competitions, European football and at international level.
Rulli has earned eight caps for Argentina and was part of the squad that lifted the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Rulli also arrives with a memorable connection to Manchester United.
He was Villarreal’s hero in the 2021 Europa League final against United, an extraordinary penalty shootout in which the goalkeeper both scored from the spot and then produced the decisive save.
Villarreal eventually won the shootout to claim the trophy, leaving United without the European title they had been targeting. Rulli’s performance turned him into one of the defining figures of that final.
His arrival at Manchester City therefore adds an intriguing chapter to a story that began with one of United’s most painful European defeats.
With Donnarumma established as City’s No.1, the club needed an experienced goalkeeper capable of stepping into the side when required.
Rulli fits that profile. His experience with Villarreal, Ajax, Marseille and Argentina means City are not simply adding another squad goalkeeper but a player accustomed to high-pressure matches.
His arrival also gives City’s coaching staff greater depth in a position where reliability can become crucial during a demanding season.
Rulli made it clear that the opportunity to return to Manchester City was one he could not afford to ignore.
“This is an amazing opportunity for me – and one I had to grasp. When the chance to join Manchester City comes along you have to go for it.”
The Argentine said City’s sustained success and high standards were major factors in his decision.
“Everyone knows what an impressive club this is. City’s success over a long time has been impressive. Everyone I have spoken to about City said I had to join them because they are a club with incredibly high standards.”
Rulli also highlighted the opportunity to continue developing within a high-performance environment.
“Every professional wants to be in a high-performance environment and I can’t wait to get started because I know I will improve and learn, which is always my main priority.”
He added that his immediate priorities were to work hard in training, build relationships with the squad and coaching staff, and reach his best level.
City Football Director Hugo Viana said Rulli’s experience at the highest level made him an attractive addition to the squad.
“It’s a pleasure to welcome Gerónimo back to the Club. The experience he brings is obvious – he has played at the very highest level for many years.”
Viana also praised the goalkeeper’s desire to return to Manchester.
“I have been really impressed by him during our conversations, a strong desire to join us. It’s clear we are getting a brilliant professional, as well as a top ‘keeper.”
The City director believes Rulli will complement the club’s existing goalkeeping group.
“The qualities he will bring are ones we need, and together with Gigio and Marcus make a great team. Our goalkeeper coaches are really happy with the group.”
Rulli is unlikely to displace Donnarumma as City’s first-choice goalkeeper, but his role could prove important across a long campaign.
European competition, domestic fixtures and injuries can place significant demands on goalkeeping departments, making experienced back-up options particularly valuable.
For Rulli, meanwhile, the move represents a second opportunity at a club he first joined nearly a decade ago.
This time, he returns to the Etihad with a World Cup winner’s medal, extensive European experience and a reputation built in some of the continent’s biggest matches.
And for Manchester United supporters, his arrival at their local rivals provides an uncomfortable reminder of the goalkeeper who once ended their hopes of European silverware.
