Gianluigi Donnarumma arrived at Manchester City on a long-term deal, reportedly worth £26m in the concluding moments of the summer transfer window deadline.
The 26-year-old shot-stopper parted ways with Paris Saint-Germain following a fallout that took place after he was left out of the squad for the 2025 UEFA Super Cup following the arrival of new goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.
Donnarumma had a four-year tenure at Parc des Princes, during which he made 161 appearances and maintained 56 clean sheets while lifting 10 trophies, including four Ligue 1 titles and one UEFA Champions League title, with the French club.
The Italian has signed a five-year contract with Man City that also includes an option to extend for a further 12 months. Donnarumma described his move to the Etihad as a 'special and proud moment,' and said,
"To have signed for Manchester City is such a special and proud moment for me. I am joining a squad packed with world-class talent and a team led by the one of the greatest managers in the history of football in Pep Guardiola. This is a club every player in world football would love to join," as per Manchester Evening News.
Now, Donnarumma has chosen his new shirt number at Man City, which is believed to be of significance to the Italy national team captain.
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What is Gianluigi Donnarumma's new shirt number at Man City?
When Donnarumma started his senior career with his boyhood club, AC Milan, he donned the No.99 shirt, which also marks his year of birth. However, following his arrival at PSG in 2021, he couldn't continue with the same number as the Ligue 1 rules only allowed goalkeepers to wear No.1, No.16, and No.30 back then.
An exception was made for Lionel Messi, who wore the No.30 as an outfielder after joining PSG from Barcelona in 2021. Donnarumma also received special dispensation, which allowed to him to have the No.50 shirt before finally being given the No.99 when shirt number regulations were relaxed by the LFP ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Following Keylor Navas' departure from PSG, Donnarumma opted for the No.1 shirt and wore it in their historic treble-winning last season.
Now, at Man City, Donnarumma has taken the No.25 shirt as his pick. The jersey was previously worn by Manuel Akanji, who made a loan move to Serie A club Inter Milan this summer.
Donnarumma's new jersey at Man City appears to be special to the goalkeeper as it matches his birth date, February 25, while it also abides by Premier League regulations on shirt numbers.
Donnarumma is expected to make his debut for City in their next Premier League game, where they will be hosting archrivals United at Etihad Stadium in the first Manchester derby of the season on September 14.
Manchester City news and related links
- PSG bid emotional farewell to Gigio Donnarumma after Man City move
- Ederson opens up on surprise exit and reveals one thing he is 'leaving' at Man City
- Akanji reveals why it was 'easy choice' to leave Man City and join Inter