Gianluigi Donnarumma makes Manchester City history with new shirt number | OneFootball

Manchester City history has been made by Gianluigi Donnarumma before the Italian goalkeeper has even saved a single shot for his new club.

Donnarumma’s move to the Etihad Stadium has already captured headlines following his £26 million switch from Paris Saint-Germain, but his latest decision has written a brand-new chapter in the club’s long-standing traditions.

Typically, City goalkeepers have worn the iconic No.1 shirt or, in more recent years, numbers such as 13, 18, or 31 – as seen in the case of Ederson. However, the 26-year-old Italian has opted for something entirely different, in a bold statement that reflects both his individuality and his established reputation as one of the world’s most recognisable goalkeepers.

The choice is also consistent with Donnarumma’s career history. At AC Milan, where he burst onto the scene as a teenager, the Italian international famously wore the same number as a nod to his birth year, and he has now brought that legacy with him to the Premier League.

Supporters at the Etihad Stadium will not only be welcoming one of the game’s top shot-stoppers but also witnessing a piece of footballing personality on display through his squad number.

For City fans, the shirt number choice will quickly become part of Donnarumma’s identity. In an era where shirt sales and player branding hold significant commercial importance, a distinctive number is likely to prove popular among fans, particularly with younger supporters.

As revealed by journalist Rich Fay, Gianluigi Donnarumma has selected the No.99 shirt at the Etihad Stadium, becoming the first Manchester City player in the club’s history to don the unique number.

Donnarumma had been forced to change his No.99 shirt number at Paris Saint-Germain to No.1 due to Ligue 1 squad number rules.

With Ederson completing a move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce on deadline day this summer, Donnarumma could soon find himself stepping into the No.1 role in more ways than one, tasked with cementing himself as City’s long-term first-choice goalkeeper under Pep Guardiola.

However, the Italy international will face a battle against the club’s shirt No.1 in James Trafford, who has started in all three of Manchester City’s opening Premier League matches so far this season following his £27 million move from Burnley.

Should Donnarumma’s performances match the boldness of his shirt selection, fans may one day associate the No.99 just as strongly with the Italian as they do other iconic numbers with Manchester City legends of the past.