Donnarumma helps Man City keep clean sheets in 5/8 Premier League matches
Man City switched priority from Ederson's risk-taking to Donnarumma's solidity: the rate of long passes from the goalkeeper increased to 42%, the 8-match unbeaten streak conceded only 4 goals.
No longer the risky goal kicks of Ederson’s time, Manchester City under Pep Guardiola are prioritizing safety with Gianluigi Donnarumma. After 8 Premier League games, Donnarumma has kept 5 clean sheets (62.5%), has a save rate of 83% and is unbeaten with Man City in 8 games (W6 D2), conceding only 4 goals. The percentage of long passes from the goalkeeper position has increased to 42% – the highest under Guardiola – reflecting a clear strategic shift from risky control to safe control.
The pivotal moment: a derby, a mark
Donnarumma made his Manchester derby debut with a crucial save to secure a 3-0 win, a sign that City had a stopper with exactly what the team needed: character and stability.
From artist Ederson to warrior Donnarumma
For eight years, Ederson Moraes has been the epitome of the modern goalkeeper at Man City: the “11th man” who moves the ball around, launches attacks from deep, and even creates assists. He has 168 clean sheets in 372 appearances, a save percentage of 73%. According to post-shot expected goals (PSxG) last season in the Premier League, Ederson prevented more than 5 expected goals, leading the league.
But football evolves. Guardiola opted for a change: he brought in Donnarumma – a pure defensive goalkeeper, 1.96m tall, who won the Yashin Trophy 2025 after helping Paris Saint-Germain win the Champions League. His arrival redefined the goalkeeper role at the Etihad: less about showing off with his feet, more about securing with his hands.
Man City changed the rhythm of escaping pressing: safer from the first line
The figures show a clear structural change. If last season only 30.5% of passes from the goalkeeper were long, this season the figure has increased to 42% – the highest under Guardiola. Man City are willing to go long when needed to cut off the source of risk under pressing pressure.
Donnarumma is right-footed (Ederson is more left-footed), which means around 60% of his kicks are towards the left flank – an area where Josko Gvardiol usually drops in. Guardiola has adapted his escape plan to maintain control without taking risks in the box.
The ripple effect: certainty breeds confidence
Last season, Man City conceded 10 goals from their opponents’ first shot on target – a detail that frustrated Guardiola. This season, that has not happened in Donnarumma’s starting games. The impact is not just a reflex save, but also a psychological effect that spreads through the defensive system.
“He not only saves goals, but also gives us confidence on the pitch,” midfielder Tijjani Reijnders said after the win over Napoli. “When Donnarumma is behind you, you feel protected.”
Important statistics
| Index | Value |
|---|---|
| Ederson's clean sheet at Man City | 168/372 matches |
| Ederson's save percentage last season | 73% |
| Ederson's PSxG stoppage last season | +5 (leading Premier League) |
| Long pass rate from Man City goalkeeper | 30.5% last season → 42% this season |
| Donnarumma's kicking direction | ~60% to the left border |
| Donnarumma's Premier League record | 5 clean sheets/8 games, 83% shot blocking |
| The opponent's first shot on target | 10 goals conceded last season → 0 this season (when he started) |
| PSxG stop at PSG (Ligue 1 + Champions League, 4 seasons) | ~22 tables |
| The first series with Man City | 8 matches: won 6, drew 2, conceded 4 |
Deal and integration process
Donnarumma initially wanted to stay at PSG to extend his stay, but after hearing of interest from City and Guardiola, he agreed to move to the Etihad. PSG wanted £40 million, while City paid just £26 million. Donnarumma flew to Manchester on September 9, five days before the derby, worked with Guardiola and sporting director Hugo Viana, and was given the starting position immediately.
Since then, Man City have gone eight games unbeaten when Donnarumma has played, winning six, drawing two, conceding just four goals – the best start by a new goalkeeper in the Guardiola era.
Long-term tactical impact
Man City have gone through the ups and downs of a controlling team: from high risk to absolute control. With Donnarumma, they have entered a period of balance and efficiency. He has not made Man City more attractive, but he has made them harder to beat – exactly what a top team in a fiercely competitive environment needs.
Experience at PSG, where Donnarumma “prevented” nearly 22 expected goals in 4 seasons, along with the Yashin Trophy 2025 title, is a guarantee for Guardiola’s new structure: controlling the game with defensive solidity, not just with ball possession.