Transfer Centre

Al-Ittihad 'preparing £25m offer for Manchester City 30-year-old'

By Carter White | 26 May 2024

Al-Ittihad 'preparing £25m offer for Man City 30-year-old'

Manchester City are reportedly preparing for interest from the Saudi Pro League for Ederson, with Al-Ittihad readying a £25m offer for the Brazilian.

Manchester City's Ederson has reportedly attracted interest from the Saudi Pro League ahead of this summer's transfer window.

The 30-year-old has enjoyed a trophy-laden spell on the blue side of Manchester since making the switch from Portuguese giants Benfica ahead of the 2017-18 campaign.

Ederson has won six Premier League trophies, one Champions League crown, four EFL Cups and two FA Cups as part of Pep Guardiola's generational Citizens side.

The Brazil international was once again a key force as Man City romped to the English crown for a fourth straight campaign, keeping 10 clean sheets in 33 league appearances.

Over a productive seven-year period at the Etihad, Ederson has featured in a total of 332 matches for Man City, winning an eye-watering total of 16 major trophies.

Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson in action with Manchester City's Kyle Walker and Ederson on February 17, 2024 © Reuters

Man City's Ederson subject to Saudi interest?

According to the Daily Mail, Ederson will have plenty of suitors in the summer transfer window should he wish to bring his stay at Man City to an end.

The report claims that Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ittihad are keen on an off-season swoop for the 30-year-old, who has missed the final part of the season due to injury.

It is understood that the Middle-East side would be willing to offer £25m for the goalkeeper, who is also attracting interest from elsewhere in Saudi Arabia.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr are said to be eyeing up a move for Man City's Ederson ahead of the 2024-25, with Luis Castro's men planning for a change in between the sticks.

At the age of 35, Colombia international David Ospina is fast approaching the conclusion of his contract at Al-Nassr and is expected to leave at the end of the season.

Manchester City's Stefan Ortega with manager Pep Guardiola before coming on as a substitute on May 14, 2024 © Reuters

Life after Ederson?

As much as a regular as Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva during Manchester City's period of success under Guardiola, it is hard to imagine the Citizens without Ederson in between the sticks.

That being said, the Premier League champions were forced to battle on for the final two games of the campaign without the Brazilian, who fractured an eye socket in the victory at Tottenham Hotspur on May 14.

Operating as City's second-choice and cup keeper, Stefan Ortega stepped up to the plate for the Premier League finale versus West Ham United and the FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United on Saturday afternoon.

It is highly unlikely that the German would be handed the title of undisputed number one at the Etihad should Ederson depart, however Guardiola is not afraid of using the 31-year-old on the big occasion.