3 Goalkeepers Manchester City Can Target If Ederson Leaves
Manchester City heads into the 2025-26 season with plans to regain the Premier League title they lost to Liverpool last season.
In preparation for the new season, the citizens completed three additions to the squad by signing attacking midfielders Ryan Cherki from Lyon and Sverre Nypan from Rosenborg, left back Rayan Aiit-Nouri from Wolves, and central midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan.
The majority of the signings were completed, considering the participation in the FIFA Club World Cup. Still, long-term, as manager Pep Guardiola looks to the future following the exit of players like Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker, who both departed for Napoli and Burnley, respectively.
Ederson’s Future
The long-term future of goalkeeper Ederson has become the subject of speculation in Turkey and England, with reports of enquiries made for the Brazil international.
31-year-old Ederson Moraes has been at the Etihad since 2017 and has won 6 Premier League titles alongside a Champions League and several domestic cup competitions in his 8-year stay.
The long-term future of all City’s goalkeepers will dominate discussions as contracts of all three (Ederson, Stefan Ortega and Marcus Bettinelli) end in 2026. Pep Guardiola and Manchester City face an inevitable decision of keeping goalkeepers above 30 or losing all goalkeepers.
Most pressing, though, is current number one Ederson, who is in the final year of his contract, as City risk losing him for free next year. Ederson was poised to leave in the summer of 2024 but decided against a move to the Saudi Pro League. The goalkeeper endured difficult spells in the team last season with injuries and losing his place to second-place Stefen Ortega before regaining it.
This summer, the former Benfica man has again been linked with an exit, with Galatasaray rumoured to have tabled a bid of €3m. The Goalkeeper has referred to all reports of an exit as ‘Fake News’ and even as the Brazilian ponders between interest from Saudi Arabia or continuing with another club in Europe, Manchester City must also make a swift decision on a replacement goalkeeper not just for Ederson but also on Stefan Ortega who has one year left on his contract with interest from the Premier League.
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3 Goalkeepers Manchester City Can Target
James Trafford
Reliable reports from England indicate that Manchester City could be ready to re-sign a player sold to Burnley for a reported £19m fee.
During the whole championship Season, James Trafford conceded only 16 goals while keeping 29 clean sheets. He played a Pivotal role as Burnley hit instant promotion back to the Premier League.
Many believe that, at the age of 22, he is ready to make the step to the Premier League. He also eyes a permanent shirt with the England national team. He solves Manchester City’s goalkeeping problem both in the short term and the long term.
Newcastle is also credited with an interest and has had a £25m bid rejected, with Burnley hoping to receive at least £40m. Manchester City is unwilling to pay that much but is reportedly resigned to paying more than the £19m they sold him for under three years ago.
Gianluigi Donnaruma
The Italian Goalkeeper was the standout between the goals as PSG won its first UEFA Champions League title last season.
The Italian goalkeeper has a 67% save percentage, saving 48 of the 72 shots faced.
At the age of 26 and given his experience in top-level football, he is viewed by many as the perfect replacement for Ederson. Donnaruma’s current contract at Paris Saint-Germain expires in 2026 and discussions over an extension have stalled since December 2024 on a goalkeeper who currently earns €12.73m annually.
According to Transfermarkt, the goalkeeper is Valued at €40m, and PSG is expected to command within that range even though he has one year left on his contract.
Aaron Ramsdale
The 27-year-old former Arsenal goalkeeper is expected to leave Southampton, less than a year after joining, following the club’s relegation to the Championship.
The England international relegation release clause makes him available for £20m. His stats with Southampton last season do not stand out, but few goalkeepers will in a team that conceded 86 goals ( the most in the Premier League)
The England number 2 is also in danger of losing his spot with a demotion to the Championship and will be desperate for a move. According to reports, Ramsdale will also be cheaper than the other options as his £20m release clause can also be negotiated.
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