Manchester City’s new goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma will make Premier League history on his debut.
The Italian shot-stopper has been assigned the No 99 at the Etihad Stadium. To date, no player has ever featured in the Premier League with a squad number that high.
Donnarumma completed a £26 million move from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day, arriving as the long-term replacement for Ederson.
Brazilian Ederson departed for Fenerbahce after eight years in Manchester, during which he won 18 major trophies and established himself as one of Pep Guardiola’s most trusted performers.
Donnarumma has spent the past four seasons in France after breaking through at AC Milan as a teenager.
Why 99 is a historic squad number in the Premier League
While high numbers are common in Serie A, they are pretty rare among first-team stars in the Premier League.
Outfield stars such as Trent Alexander-Arnold (66), Declan Rice (41), and Phil Foden (47) are among the most famous examples of players sticking with academy digits.
Until now, the highest number seen in the top-flight has been 78, worn by Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns.
Donnarumma’s choice of 99 smashes that record and ensures he will stand out every time he pulls on the gloves for City.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, pictured in action against Chelsea in the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, wore the No 1 shirt at PSG but he will be Man City’s No 99
Why Donnarumma wears No 99
The reason behind Donnarumma’s preference is simple: it represents his birth year, 1999.
When he burst onto the scene at AC Milan as a 16-year-old, he immediately opted for 99 and kept it throughout his time at San Siro. It became part of his identity and a number that supporters associated closely with him.
His spell at PSG forced him to abandon it, as Ligue 1 rules require first-team players to wear numbers between 1 and 30.
He reluctantly switched to No 1 in Paris but has now reclaimed his favourite number in England, where the rules allow players to choose anything up to 99.
Donnarumma’s issue with his number in Paris was similar to the one faced by Alexander-Arnold upon his arrival at Real Madrid this summer. The former Liverpool favourite had to ditch No 66 due to La Liga rules obliging players to stay within 1-25.
City already have a No 1
While Donnarumma will wear No 99 on his back, it is widely expected that he will be City’s No 1 in terms of status as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.
However, fellow summer signing James Trafford, who currently owns the physical No 1 jersey, may have different ideas.
The 22-year-old has started all of City’s league matches so far this season and, a costly mistake against Tottenham aside, has looked composed and capable at the highest level. His calmness in possession and confidence playing out from the back are qualities Guardiola prizes.
Donnarumma, meanwhile, arrives with a reputation as one of the world’s elite shot-stoppers, fresh from winning the Champions League with PSG. The only lingering doubt is whether his distribution is sharp enough to thrive in Guardiola’s system.
