Report: 23-year-old Man City star eyeing January exit | OneFootball

Man City Goalkeeper Uncertainty Grows Ahead of January Window

Manchester City are facing a rare moment of uncertainty in goal, with new arrivals and long-serving deputies both contemplating exits only months after a significant summer reshuffle. According to the Daily Mail, two of the club’s goalkeepers are now “open to leaving the club” as attention turns toward the January transfer window, an unusually swift development following the first major overhaul of the position in eight years.

City spent £27 million to bring in James Trafford from Burnley, a move described internally as a strategic step toward long-term succession planning. He was “told he was joining as first choice on completion of a £27million switch from Burnley and Ederson sealing a switch to Fenerbahce.” Yet his anticipated role never materialised, due mainly to a late change of plans.

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Donnarumma Arrival Alters City Landscape

The picture shifted dramatically when “Gianluigi Donnarumma went on to arrive from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day, with City having trailed the Italian for much of the summer.” Since landing at the Etihad, the Italy international “has started every Premier League game since,” effectively reordering the established pecking order.

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That reshuffle has left Trafford exposed, with the 23-year-old now considering next steps. City had “used a matching rights clause to beat Newcastle United to the signing of Trafford in July and the Magpies are expected to return for the 23-year-old next month.” Minutes are scarce, and so too is patience for a player who expected a shortcut to becoming England’s next number one.

Ortega Weighs His Options

Meanwhile, Stefan Ortega is also taking stock. He is “now effectively fourth choice behind Marcus Bettinelli and is not travelling to away matches,” a blunt assessment of how far his standing has fallen. With both Trafford and Ortega exploring exits, City’s depth behind Donnarumma suddenly looks less secure than in recent years.

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The decisions are not straightforward. Backup stability has long been a Guardiola hallmark, and any January movement would need to maintain competition without unsettling squad balance.

Donnarumma Discipline Adds Edge

Adding further complexity is Donnarumma’s disciplinary situation. The 26-year-old “could become the first goalkeeper in Premier League history to receive a suspension for accumulating five yellow cards before the count is reset during the first week of January.” He “picked up a fourth during Saturday’s dramatic 3-2 win over Leeds United,” three for dissent and one for time-wasting.

Guardiola has so far taken a relaxed stance, saying: “He has many, it is what it is.”

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City currently “can go within two points of leaders Arsenal if they beat Fulham at Craven Cottage on Tuesday night,” yet uncertainty behind the first choice goalkeeper casts a subtle shadow over otherwise strong title momentum.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

This is an oddly unsettling moment in a position normally defined by clarity and calm. The Trafford saga feels particularly frustrating. Paying £27 million for a goalkeeper who was “told he was joining as first choice” only for circumstances to change weeks later suggests either poor communication or an overly fluid summer strategy. Fans can sympathise with Trafford’s frustration, especially with his England ambitions now potentially stalled by limited game time.

Ortega’s situation also resonates deeply with the fanbase. He has been a loyal, dependable deputy, and seeing him reduced to travelling less and drifting toward a January exit feels like a harsh ending. Supporters value continuity, especially in goal where trust and familiarity matter.

Donnarumma has been excellent, but his yellow card accumulation is a genuine concern. City fans will quietly worry about a suspension arriving at the worst possible time, forcing reliance on backups who may not even remain at the club by February. Guardiola’s line, “He has many, it is what it is,” sounds carefree, but in reality, the margin for error at the top of the Premier League is wafer-thin.

For supporters, the hope is that any January exit is carefully managed, ensuring City do not progress into the decisive title months with unnecessary instability in the most crucial position on the pitch.