Manchester City sold goalkeeper Ederson Moraes to Fenerbahce on Tuesday and was set to replace him with Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain, in a switch that seems at odds with the playing approach by the once-dominant Premier League team.
Ederson won 18 trophies at City after joining from Benfica in 2017, and helped to revolutionize the goalkeeper position in English soccer with his ability to play the ball out from the back and pick out attackers with long, raking passes. The Brazil international had seven assists in the Premier League — two more than any other goalie — and showed uncanny calmness under pressure with the ball at his feet
City is reportedly close bringing in the 26-year-old Donnarumma as a replacement, even though his strength is shot-stopping rather than his ability to pass out from the back and start attacks — typically a key requisite for goalkeepers in teams coached by Pep Guardiola.
Ederson’s move to Fenerbahce was announced a few hours after European soccer’s summer transfer window shut in England late Monday. The window is still open in Turkey, however.
“I arrived in Manchester eight years ago full of hope,” the 31-year-old Ederson said, “but I could not have predicted such a beautiful time together.”
City director of football Hugo Viana praised Ederson for his “skills and bravery,” adding they were “crucial in helping City play the beautiful football we have seen.”
Ederson’s departure continued the clear-out of players who helped City became the dominant force in England under Guardiola, as well as a Champions League winner in 2023, but might now be past their best.
In this transfer window, Kyle Walker has left for Burnley on a permanent deal, Jack Grealish joined Everton on loan and Manuel Akanji signed for Inter Milan on Tuesday.
James Trafford, a 22-year-old signed from Burnley in the offseason, has started the season as City’s first-choice goalkeeper but is likely to be usurped by Donnarumma if he joins.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Steve Douglas, The Associated Press
