Gianluigi Donnarumma was never a goalkeeper who had to wait his turn. He made his Serie A debut for AC Milan at 16, became the club’s first choice almost immediately, and by the time he left San Siro in 2021 he had already played more than 200 games for the Rossoneri.
That summer defined him. Donnarumma was named player of the tournament as Italy won Euro 2020, saving the decisive penalties in the semi-final and final. He then joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, where he collected four Ligue 1 titles and, in 2025, the Champions League trophy the club had chased for more than a decade. His shoot-out saves against Liverpool in the round of 16 were among the defining moments of that run.
Standing 1.96 m, Donnarumma relies on reach, reflexes and composure one-on-one rather than on sweeping far from his line. He moved to Manchester City in 2025 and, still in his mid-twenties, remains Italy’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Playing style
Donnarumma’s game is built on size and reflexes. At 1.96 m he covers the goal with remarkable reach, and his reactions to close-range shots are among the quickest in Europe. He is at his most dominant in one-on-one situations, spreading himself early to make the angle impossible, and in penalty shoot-outs, where his record is exceptional. Critics have pointed to his distribution with his feet as the weaker part of his game, particularly in teams that build from the back, but he has worked to improve it. His calm under pressure is striking for a keeper who has played at the top level since his teens.
International career
Donnarumma made his senior Italy debut in 2016, aged 17, and inherited the No. 1 shirt from Gianluigi Buffon. His defining international moment came at Euro 2020, where he saved penalties in both the semi-final against Spain and the final against England at Wembley, and became the first goalkeeper to be named player of the tournament. He has since captained Italy and remains their first-choice goalkeeper.
Career in numbers
Donnarumma’s senior club career, which began in 2015/16, has so far brought 462 appearances for 3 clubs. His busiest campaign was 2017/18, when he played 53 matches for AC Milan. So far in 2026/27 he has made 7 appearances for Manchester City. The full season-by-season record is in the Stats section of this profile.