Manchester City have signed Argentine goalkeeper, Geronimo Rulli from Marseille for an undisclosed transfer fee.
Rulli’s arrival comes almost a week after James Trafford left City to join Leeds and the 34-year-old Argentine goalkeeper will act as the second-choice goalkeeper behind Gianluigi Donnarumma.
“This is an amazing opportunity for me and one I had to grasp,” explained Rulli who has signed a two-year contract until June 2028. “When the chance to join Manchester City comes along you have to go for it.
“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.
“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.
“My job now is to train hard, get to know the players and staff and do everything I can to reach my best level.”
City’s Football Director, Hugo Viana added that Rulli brings experience
“The experience he brings is obvious – he has played at the very highest level for many years.
“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.
“Everyone at City is looking forward to welcoming him back to the Club. 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 represents Argentina at international level with eight senior caps and was the back-up goalkeeper in their run to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, where they lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time, and previously was part of their 2022 title-winning World Cup squad and likewise for the Men’s Finalissima that year and 2024 Copa America.
Rulli began his career at Estudiantes where he graduated through their academy to make 53 first-team appearances before he spent 2014-16 on loan at Real Sociedad, where he impressed and earned a move to City in summer 2016 only for Pep Guardiola to loan him straight back to Real Sociedad.
His loan from City was however made permanent in January 2017 and he went on to make 170 appearances in total for the Spanish club, before he spent the 2019-20 season on loan at Montpellier.
He then spent two-and-a-half years at Villarreal where he scored their winning penalty to claim the 2020-21 UEFA Europa League title, as the Yellow Submarines beat Manchester United 11-10 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in which he saved David De Gea’s spot-kick to settle the contest.
Rulli subsequently spent 18 months at Ajax before he joined Marseille in August 2024.
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