Gianluigi Donnarumma reveals real reason he chose special Man City shirt number
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(Credit: Imago, Getty)
Oliver Walton
Fri 12 September 2025 13:03, UK
Gianluigi Donnarumma has revealed exactly why he chose a specific shirt number upon joining Man City ahead of his potential debut against rivals Man United this weekend.
Man City‘s goalkeeping conundrum led them to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma after he had been told that he had no future at PSG by Luis Enrique.
The Italy international goalkeeper has been one of the world’s best in his position for a number of years, and so it was no surprise to see the Citizens register their interest in his services as Ederson edged closer to a move to Fenerbahce.
Football Insider revealed on 12 August that Man City were entering the race to sign Donnarumma alongside the likes of Chelsea and Man United, and Pep Guardiola’s side ramped up their efforts to seal his signature as the deadline approached on 1 September.
Donnarumma arrived at Man City from PSG for a fee of £30.3million on deadline day, and while he is yet to feature for his new club due to the international break, he has now revealed why he chose a certain shirt number as he prepares to make his bow.
Credit: Imago
Donnarumma will wear the number 25 at Man City, despite previous reports that he was set to don the number 99 that he previously wore at PSG and AC Milan before that.
Speaking in an interview on Man City’s official YouTube channel as he arrived to do his media duties, Donnarumma revealed the three exact reasons why he chose 25, with all three factors being close to his heart.
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He said: “25 is the [date] of my first match in a Serie A team.
25th [of] October, my first match….and it’s my birthday and the birthday of Alessia, my girlfriend.”
His aforementioned debut came in a Serie A clash for Milan against Sassuolo in October 2015, and just under 10 years later, he could be about to make his first appearance for City as they face Man United on Sunday (14 September).
Donnarumma is a top goalkeeper, as shown by his exploits on the international stage and at club level, so even though he is not a typical Guardiola keeper, it was a complete no-brainer for City to go after him this summer as soon as he became available.
He was obviously not the only shot-stopper they signed this summer, though, with James Trafford returning to the Etihad Stadium from Burnley in July for an initial £27m [Sky Sports].
AppearancesGoals concededClean sheets451629Trafford’s 2024/25 stats
Trafford was a standout in the Championship with the Clarets and will have joined City to be a number one, but he has now seen some seriously strong competition arrive in Donnarumma after some shaky performances at the start of the campaign.
Football Insider revealed on Tuesday (2 September) that Donnarumma will replace Trafford as Man City’s number one, and that will surely be the case for a number of years to come, so the Englishman will surely already regret his move back to Manchester, and could well leave again soon to get more game-time.