The Argentina international has signed a two-year deal after leaving Marseille to provide experienced cover for Gianluigi Donnarumma

Manchester City have completed the signing of 34-year-old Argentina international Gerónimo Rulli from Olympique de Marseille on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, bringing the experienced goalkeeper back to the Etihad Stadium on a two-year contract.

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Rulli returns to Manchester City after previously spending the 2016/17 season at the club without making a senior appearance. His latest arrival is designed to provide experienced competition and cover for first-choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The move follows the departure of James Trafford, who has left Manchester City for Leeds United, creating the need for another experienced option behind Donnarumma.

Rulli welcomed the opportunity to return to the Premier League champions, describing the move as a significant moment in his career.

“This is an amazing opportunity for me and one I had to grasp,” Rulli said in a Manchester City statement. “When the chance to join Manchester City comes along, you have to take it. Everyone knows what an impressive club this is.”

The Argentine goalkeeper arrives with a substantial European pedigree. Since leaving Manchester City, Rulli has represented Real Sociedad, Montpellier, Villarreal, Ajax and Marseille, gaining experience across several of Europe’s major competitions.

His spell at Villarreal produced one of the defining achievements of his club career. Rulli played a key role in Villarreal’s 2021 Europa League triumph, which came against Manchester United in the final.

Internationally, Rulli has won eight caps for Argentina and was part of the squads that won the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Copa América.

His international career has largely placed him behind Emiliano Martínez in Argentina’s goalkeeping hierarchy, but his experience has kept him within the national set-up.

Rulli had also established himself as an important figure at Marseille. He joined the French club in 2024 and had a contract running until June 2027, making his move to Manchester City a relatively swift change in direction after a period in which Marseille had reportedly intended to retain him.

Reports indicate that Manchester City paid approximately £1.7 million for the goalkeeper, while other reports put the transfer fee at around €3.5 million. The two-year agreement takes Rulli’s contract through June 2028.

The signing also has an unusual element of familiarity. Manchester City originally recruited Rulli in 2016, but the goalkeeper never appeared for the first team before continuing his development elsewhere.

A decade later, Rulli returns to a club with considerably different expectations around him. Rather than competing immediately for the No. 1 shirt, his principal task will be to offer reliable experience whenever Donnarumma is unavailable and to provide competition within the goalkeeping group.

For Manchester City, the transfer represents a pragmatic piece of squad building following Trafford’s departure. For Rulli, it offers a remarkable second opportunity at a club where his first spell ended without a competitive appearance.

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The reunion gives the veteran goalkeeper another chance to make his mark at the Etihad, this time with a wealth of experience and major honours behind him.