Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Argentina international goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli from Marseille in a deal worth £1.7m, with the 34-year-old putting pen to paper on a two-year contract.
The move marks a homecoming of sorts for Rulli, who previously spent the 2016-17 campaign at the Etihad Stadium without featuring for the first team. Nearly a decade on, he returns to Manchester as an experienced addition to the club's goalkeeping ranks.
Rulli's arrival comes as a direct replacement for James Trafford, the England shot-stopper who departed City for Leeds United earlier this week in a deal that could rise to £45m. With Trafford's exit leaving a gap in the squad, City moved swiftly to bring in the seasoned Argentine, who is expected to serve as understudy to first-choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Throughout his career, Rulli has built a reputation as a reliable and battle-tested goalkeeper across several of Europe's top leagues. Before his stint at Marseille, he represented Real Sociedad, Montpellier and Ajax, gaining experience in Spain, France and the Netherlands respectively. That well-travelled background should provide City with valuable squad depth heading into the new season.
One of the defining moments of Rulli's career came in the 2021 Europa League final, when Villarreal faced Manchester United in a dramatic showdown that went all the way to a penalty shootout after a goalless draw. Rulli not only converted his own spot-kick for Villarreal but also produced the decisive save, denying United goalkeeper David de Gea to hand his side the trophy in one of the longest shootouts in the competition's history.
On the international stage, Rulli has earned eight caps for Argentina and has been part of some of the nation's most successful recent campaigns. He was included in the squad that lifted the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as well as the side that triumphed at the 2024 Copa America, giving him firsthand experience of major tournament success at the highest level.
His pedigree and tournament-winning experience are seen as valuable assets for a Manchester City squad that continues to compete on multiple fronts domestically and in Europe. While he is not expected to challenge immediately for the starting spot given Donnarumma's status as first-choice, Rulli's know-how and big-game composure could prove useful across a demanding fixture list.
The timing of the deal, coming so soon after Trafford's departure, underlines City's determination to maintain strength in depth between the posts. Manager Pep Guardiola has consistently prioritized having reliable options in every position, and Rulli's arrival ensures there is a proven international readily available should Donnarumma need rotation or cover through injury or suspension.
With the transfer now finalized, attention will turn to how quickly Rulli integrates into the squad and whether he will be included in City's plans for upcoming fixtures. His experience of European finals, World Cup football and Copa America glory suggests he arrives with the mentality required to handle the pressures associated with representing one of the Premier League's most decorated clubs.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.