Manchester City are edging closer to signing Geronimo Rulli as the replacement for James Trafford, who is on the verge of joining Leeds United. The Premier League runners-up, who finished last season in 2nd place with 78 points (23W-9D-6L), have submitted an offer for the experienced Argentina international.
Rulli, 34, previously spent time at the Etihad Stadium after joining in 2016 but never made a senior appearance before moving to Real Sociedad. He later joined Marseille permanently from Ajax in August 2024, making 73 appearances, including 29 last season. His return would provide much-needed depth in goal following Trafford’s expected £45m departure.
The 23-year-old academy graduate, who cost City £31m when re-signed from Burnley in 2023, has made just 17 appearances since his return. With Trafford seeking regular first-team football, the move to Leeds United appears a sensible outcome for all parties, allowing City to recoup a significant fee.
Under new manager Enzo Maresca, City are preparing for life without Pep Guardiola for the first time in over a decade. The club have already made several high-profile additions this summer, and Rulli’s experience could prove vital as they aim to bounce back from a 1-2 defeat to Aston Villa on 2026-05-24, their last result of the 2025-26 campaign.
