Gerónimo Rulli Returns to Manchester City on Two-Year Deal
Manchester City have brought Gerónimo Rulli back to the Etihad, sealing a two-year deal for the Argentina international goalkeeper from Marseille.
The 34-year-old has signed a contract running until June 2028, with City paying around £1.7m. He will take the No.28 shirt and step in as James Trafford’s replacement after the England goalkeeper’s move to Leeds.
A Familiar Face, Finally Ready for the Stage
Rulli’s name is not new to City fans. He was on the club’s books in the 2016/17 season, a curious footnote in his career when he never made a first-team appearance before moving on. This time, he arrives as a fully formed, battle-tested goalkeeper, not a passing loanee in a complex deal.
Since that brief first spell, Rulli has built a heavyweight résumé across Europe. He has guarded the posts for Real Sociedad in La Liga, taken on Ligue 1 with Montpellier, lifted silverware with Villarreal, and added further experience at Ajax and Marseille. It has been a long road back to Manchester.
Big Nights and Bigger Prizes
On the international stage, Rulli owns eight caps for Argentina and a place in two golden squads. He was part of the group that conquered the world at the 2022 World Cup and then backed it up with the 2024 Copa América triumph. He may not have been the headline act, but he has lived inside dressing rooms that know how to win at the very highest level.
English fans will most likely remember him for one night in particular. In 2021, Rulli stood in goal for Villarreal in the Europa League final against Manchester United. He not only kept his nerve through a marathon penalty shootout but also scored from the spot himself before saving the decisive kick. That evening in Gdańsk cemented his reputation as a goalkeeper who embraces the pressure rather than shrinks from it.
Now he returns to Manchester with medals, scars, and stories. City are betting that this version of Gerónimo Rulli, older and sharper, can bring calm authority behind one of the most demanding defensive lines in world football.
