Gianluigi Donnarumma pulled on a Manchester City shirt for the first time in a competitive game, making his debut in the Premier League against fierce rivals Manchester United following his £26m summer switch from Paris Saint-Germain. All eyes were on the Italian shot-stopper as he stepped into English football for the very first time.
The 26-year-old was relatively untested during the opening exchanges, collecting a couple of simple efforts, including a comfortable save from Benjamin Šeško. He had little to do while City controlled possession, with Jeremy Doku supplying Phil Foden for the breakthrough in the 18th minute. Donnarumma’s first big involvement came from a corner, where he showed composure to punch clear under pressure, earning warm applause from the home support.
After the interval, City doubled their advantage through Erling Haaland, who clinically finished from another Doku assist. The moment that really introduced Donnarumma to the Premier League came on 62 minutes — a spectacular stop to deny Bryan Mbeumo, tipping the effort wide at full stretch. It was the kind of save that underlined why Pep Guardiola pushed for his signing.
Haaland added a third later on, wrapping up the points and leaving City fans with plenty to celebrate beyond the scoreline — the calm and commanding presence of their new No.1.
Fans React to Donnarumma’s First Game
City supporters were full of praise for the Italian, with one fan writing: “Donnarumma makes me feel secure already.” Another added: “He looks commanding and confident — exactly what we needed.”
His dominance in the air also caught attention, with a fan noting: “Set pieces used to worry me, but Donnarumma looks in control.” Others were even bolder in their assessment: “This signing has completely changed City’s defence.”
But it was his stunning save from Mbeumo that truly stole the headlines. One supporter shouted: “DONNARUMMA, THAT WAS UNREAL!” Another declared: “He’s a monster — I’m officially a fan now.” Meanwhile, one fan compared him to his predecessor: “Ederson wouldn’t have stopped that. Donnarumma is a game-changer.”
Many were also struck by his imposing figure between the sticks, even if he isn’t quite as tall as James Trafford. “Donnarumma looks massive in goal,” one fan wrote, while another simply said: “He makes the goal look smaller. United didn’t stand a chance.”
