Manchester City are preparing to welcome Gianluigi Donnarumma to their training centre for the first time this week.
The Italy international completed a deadline day transfer to the Etihad Stadium a week ago, signing a five-year contract with Manchester City with the option of an additional year whilst he was still on international duty in Florence.
Donnarumma has bolstered Manchester City’s goalkeeping department further, with the Blues also having signed James Trafford and Marcus Bettinelli from Burnley and Chelsea respectively in the recent transfer window.
The 26-year-old has joined City for £26 million after a public fallout with Paris Saint-Germain to conclude a long-drawn contract dispute, which has seen the Ligue 1 giants replace the Italian with Lucas Chevalier from Lille.
Meanwhile, Manchester City allowed Ederson to complete a deadline day move to Fenerbahce, subsequently progressing their pursuit of Donnarumma, who is understood to have agreed personal terms to move to the Etihad Stadium several weeks before the transfer was made official.
Whilst Ederson’s future in England remained uncertain heading into the final weeks of the transfer window, City identified Donnarumma as their preferred signing and secured the former AC Milan man’s arrival in time on the final day of the window.
Ederson was named on the bench in Manchester City’s recent 2-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium, with the 31-year-old given a green light to fly to Turkey the day after the defeat to complete his desired move away from the Etihad Stadium.
Donnarumma was believed to be keen on joining forces with Pep Guardiola and despite interest from Manchester United when he was assessing his options, the 26-year-old was waiting for Manchester City to sanction a sale for Ederson and it has to be said that all parties are happy with how the final weeks of the window have materialised.
As confirmed alongside an accompanying photo released by journalist Fabrizio Romano, Gianluigi Donnarumma has travelled to the north-west of England alongside his agent Enzo Raiola.
The Italy international is said to be preparing for his first day as a new Manchester City player, having completed his medical with the Premier League giants and signed his contract in Florence due to commitments with the national team on transfer deadline day.
Manchester City’s first-team stars who were away on international duty are expected to report for training later this week, with the Blues looking to return to winning ways when they face Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Guardiola and co have made their worst start to a Premier League campaign since the Catalan took charge of City in 2016, having suffered two losses in their opening three league games. The schedule doesn’t get any easier, with United, Napoli and Arsenal next up for Manchester City, who may call upon Donnarumma to bail them out of jail.
