Donnarumma Shocks Football World with Historic Shirt Number Choice at Manchester City

Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to make Premier League history by becoming the first player to sport the No. 99 jersey after selecting digits that hold special significance for his Manchester City career.

The ex-Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper was formally introduced as City's concluding summer acquisition on Tuesday through a brief video recorded at Italy's training facility before the international fixtures.

Donnarumma is stepping into the role vacated by Ederson's transfer to Fenerbahçe but has chosen not to inherit the No. 31 jersey he left behind. James Trafford began the campaign as Pep Guardiola's primary goalkeeper and appropriately wears the No. 1 shirt that Donnarumma might have been anticipated to claim. However, he has a connection with 99—despite the Premier League's lack of precedent.

Athletes in England's premier division are permitted to select any number from 1 to 99, though none had previously chosen a number as elevated as 99. Liverpool defender Conor Bradley sported 84 during the previous campaign while Donnarumma's new Manchester City colleague Rico Lewis displays 82.

Why Gianluigi Donnarumma Has Chosen the Number 99 Shirt for Man City

When a 16-year-old Donnarumma made his professional debut for Milan, he became the second-youngest goalkeeper in Italian football history—exactly 73 years after the record holder, Giuseppe Sacchi. The talented youngster accomplished this milestone wearing 99 on his jersey, highlighting his youth status as the numbers represented his birth year: 1999.

Donnarumma's early years were largely defined by his age. During youth matches, the prodigy's mother developed the practice of carrying his identification documents to show skeptical parents. Those questioning voices weren't completely unfounded: by age 10, Donnarumma had already reached 6'0" in height.

Now 26 years old and standing 6'5", City's latest goalkeeper has returned to wearing 99 on his jersey.