Manchester City have secured the services of Argentine goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, signing the 34-year-old on a two-year contract from Marseille, the clubs confirmed on Wednesday. Rulli will take on the role of City’s second-choice goalkeeper, backing up Italian international Gianluigi Donnarumma.
This marks Rulli’s return to City, where he previously spent the 2016/17 season but did not feature in any first-team matches. Reflecting on his move, Rulli described the transfer as an “amazing opportunity” that he couldn’t pass up. He emphasized the club’s prestige and the high standards that have driven City’s prolonged success on the domestic and European stages.
Experienced International and European Campaigner
Rulli brings a wealth of experience from both international and club football. He has earned eight caps for Argentina and was part of the national squad that triumphed in the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa America. Additionally, he was on the roster for Argentina during the recent World Cup final, where they ultimately fell to Spain.
At club level, Rulli has played across several top European leagues, representing teams such as Real Sociedad, Villarreal, Montpellier, and Ajax. One of the standout moments of his career came during the 2021 Europa League final. In that memorable match, Rulli scored a crucial penalty for Villarreal against Manchester United and subsequently saved a penalty from opposing goalkeeper David de Gea in the shootout, helping his team secure the trophy with an 11-10 victory.
As he rejoins City, Rulli aims to integrate quickly with the squad and coaching staff, committing himself to rigorous training to perform at his peak and contribute to the team’s ongoing ambitions.