Geronimo Rulli is heading back to Manchester City. Fabrizio Romano confirmed on August 7, 2026, that the 34-year-old Argentine goalkeeper had agreed terms with the club and would undergo his medical on Monday, August 10, with an official club statement to follow. City first approached Marseille around August 4, and the deal moved quickly from there.
The reported fee sits somewhere between 2 million euros, per Sam Lee of The Athletic, and 3.5 to 3.8 million euros, per CaughtOffside citing Romano. The contract length is also slightly disputed between sources, with CaughtOffside reporting a two-year deal through 2028 and Romano’s reporting, cited by esteemedkompany.com, adding an option to extend through 2029.
The deal itself
Rulli spent the past two seasons at Olympique de Marseille, making 73 appearances and helping the club to a second-placed Ligue 1 finish in 2024-25. That form was enough to convince City to move for him, even at 34, as they look for an experienced backup behind Gianluigi Donnarumma.
He will join the squad when City return from their pre-season tour of Hong Kong and South Korea next week. Enzo Maresca is in his first full summer shaping the squad, and fellow Argentine Willy Caballero, the former City goalkeeper, is part of his backroom staff.
Why the move happened
Rulli arrives to replace James Trafford, who signed for Leeds United earlier that week in a deal worth up to 45 million pounds. That departure left City needing a second goalkeeper with genuine senior experience, and Rulli fits that profile. City also re-signed Pierce Charles from Sheffield Wednesday, though Charles will spend 2026-27 on loan at Queens Park Rangers, so he is not an immediate solution.
The Caballero connection may also have helped smooth negotiations. Rulli already knows that environment, and having a trusted compatriot on the coaching staff rarely hurts a recruitment pitch.
Player profile: a goalkeeper with landmark moments
Rulli is best remembered internationally for saving the winning penalty in the 2021 Europa League final shootout against Manchester United while playing for Villarreal, a moment that defined that club’s greatest night in European football. He has also been capped eight times for Argentina, though at the 2026 World Cup he served as backup to Emiliano Martinez and did not play a single minute of the tournament as Argentina reached the final.
His first connection to City goes back to July 2016, when he joined from Deportivo Maldonado but never made a competitive appearance. He was loaned to Real Sociedad and then joined them permanently in January 2017. Nearly a decade on, he gets a second chance with the club, this time with a clearer and more realistic role defined from the start.
What it means for Manchester City
Rulli is one part of a busy summer for City. The club has also signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a reported 116 million pounds and Jeremy Monga from Leicester City for 10 million pounds, per CaughtOffside. The squad is being reshaped significantly under Maresca.
Donnarumma is clearly the first choice between the posts, and Rulli understands that dynamic. His job is to push the Italian in training and be ready when called upon — exactly the kind of role his 73-game stint at Marseille showed he can still perform at a high level. City are banking on that experience being worth the modest outlay.
FAQ
How much are Manchester City paying for Geronimo Rulli?
Reports differ slightly. The Athletic puts the fee at 2 million euros, while CaughtOffside, citing Fabrizio Romano, reports a figure between 3.5 and 3.8 million euros.
How long is Geronimo Rulli’s contract at Manchester City?
CaughtOffside reports a two-year deal running through 2028. Romano’s reporting, cited separately, suggests the same end date with an option to extend through 2029.
Has Geronimo Rulli played for Manchester City before?
Yes. Rulli joined City in July 2016 but never made a competitive appearance. He was loaned to Real Sociedad and signed for them permanently in January 2017.