Transfer News: Rulli Returns to City, Chavarria Completes Chelsea Dream Move
Manchester City and Chelsea have both strengthened their squads ahead of the new season, confirming the signings of Argentina goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli and Spanish left-back Pep Chavarria respectively.
City Bring Back Rulli, Nearly a Decade On
Manchester City have completed the signing of Geronimo Rulli from French side Marseille on a two-year deal, marking a return to the Etihad for the 34-year-old goalkeeper. Rulli previously spent the 2016-2017 season with City but never made a first-team appearance during that spell. Reports from BBC Sport put City’s fee for the goalkeeper at £1.7million.
His arrival fills the void left by James Trafford, who has departed for Leeds in a deal reportedly worth up to £45million. Rulli is expected to operate as understudy to City’s first-choice goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, providing experienced backup for the season ahead.
Speaking on the move, Rulli didn’t hide his excitement. He said joining City was an opportunity he had to seize, pointing to the club’s reputation for high standards and sustained success as major factors behind his decision. He added that stepping into a high-performance environment was exactly what he needed to keep improving and learning as a professional.
Gerónimo Rulli rejoins Man City
Interestingly, Rulli already has history with City supporters, though not in the way most new signings do. Back in 2021, he scored the decisive penalty for Villarreal in their Europa League final shootout win over Manchester United, before denying David de Gea to seal a dramatic victory.
On the international stage, Rulli has earned eight caps for Argentina and was part of the squads that won the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Copa America. He also featured as Argentina reached the final of the 2026 World Cup. His European journey began at Real Sociedad, taking him through Montpellier and Ajax before his move to Marseille and now back to City.
Pep Chavarria is a Blue
Chelsea Complete Five-Year Deal for Chavarria
Across London, Chelsea have announced the signing of Spanish left-back Pep Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano on a five-year contract. The 28-year-old will link up with his new Chelsea teammates at Cobham as the club ramps up preparations for the 2026/27 campaign.
Chavarria described the move to Stamford Bridge as a dream come true, calling Chelsea one of the biggest clubs in the world. He said he was ready to work hard to help the team succeed and took a moment to thank his family for their support throughout his career journey.
That journey started at hometown club UE Figueres in Spain’s fourth tier, where he made his senior debut at just 18 against CF Peralada. A move to third-tier UE Olot in 2018 saw him establish himself as a regular, racking up 52 appearances before earning a switch to Real Zaragoza in August 2020. His professional debut came a month later in a 2-2 draw with Las Palmas.
After two seasons in Spain’s second tier, Chavarria stepped up to La Liga with Rayo Vallecano in August 2022. He went on to become a key figure for the club, helping them secure back-to-back eighth-place finishes in La Liga. He also played a central role in Rayo’s run to last season’s UEFA Conference League final, making 44 appearances across all competitions, in a match the club narrowly lost to Crystal Palace.
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