Coming through the team'syouth system, Donnarumma began his career withAC Milan in 2015, becoming the second-youngest goalkeeper ever to debut inSerie A, aged 16 years and 242 days; he immediately broke into the starting line-up, earning a reputation as arguably the most promising young goalkeeper in the world at the time. In 2021, Donnarumma helped Milan secure a second-place finish in the2020–21 Serie A and qualification for the2021–22 UEFA Champions League after an eight-year absence. He was also namedSerie A's Best Goalkeeper of the Year,IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper and also won theYashin Trophy. After six years with Milan, Donnarumma moved toLigue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain in June 2021 on a free transfer, where he won theUEFA Champions League as part of atreble in2025, and won the Yashin Trophy a second time.
Internationally, Donnarumma broke the record as the youngest Italian to ever play for theU21 team, aged 17 years and 28 days in March 2016. Six months later, he made his senior international debut,becoming the youngest goalkeeper ever to appear for Italy, aged 17 years and 189 days. Donnarumma represented Italy atUEFA Euro 2020, helping the team win the tournament and winning the Player of the Tournament award, a first for a goalkeeper.[4]
Donnarumma grew up in the football academy of ASD Club Napoli in his nativeCastellammare di Stabia, which he joined in 2003.[9] In 2013, at the age of 14, he was signed for €250,000 byAC Milan, the team for which his elder brother,Antonio, had already played.[10] Between 2013 and 2015, he was part of theRossoneri youth academy, where he always played in the age group above him, beginning with theGiovanissimi, then theAllievi, and finally thePrimavera.[11] Three days before his 16th birthday, in February 2015, he received his first call-up to the senior team from managerFilippo Inzaghi; though he did not feature in the league match againstCesena, his presence on the substitutes' bench had required a special dispensation due to his age.[12][13] In March 2015, Donnarumma signed his first professional contract with Milan, effective from 1 July 2015 until 30 June 2018.[14][15]
2015–16: Immediate breakthrough into starting eleven
Donnarumma in 2015
At the beginning of the 2015–16 season, Donnarumma was promoted to the senior team by managerSiniša Mihajlović, initially as the third-choice goalkeeper behindDiego López andChristian Abbiati.[16] During Milan's pre-season tour of China, he made his debut in anInternational Champions Cup match againstReal Madrid on 30 July. Replacing López in the 72nd minute, he kept a clean sheet for the remainder of the match, but was one of two Milan players to miss hispenalty shoot-out attempt in an eventual 10–9 loss. His subsequent starting appearance againstSassuolo in the final of theTIM Trophy saw him save two penalties in the shootout to secure Milan's victory.[17]
Donnarumma made his competitive debut inSerie A on 25 October 2015 against Sassuolo at theSan Siro stadium; chosen to start ahead of López, he helped the team achieve a 2–1 victory after three matches without a win.[18] At the age of 16 years and 242 days,[19] he was the third-youngest goalkeeper to start a match in the history of Italian football; 13 days older than Giuseppe Sacchi, who coincidentally made his Serie A debut withMilan on the very same date, 73 years earlier;[20][21] and two months older thanGianluca Pacchiarotti, who made his Serie A debut withPescara in 1980. López subsequently hailed him as "the future of Milan and of Italian football".[22] Donnarumma kept his first clean sheet three days later in a 1–0 win againstChievo.[23] After three successive victories featuring Donnarumma in the starting line-up, Milan avoided a defeat againstAtalanta as a result of an impressive display from their goalkeeper; "Donnarumma worked miracles", commented theGazzetta dello Sport.[24] His performances that year earned him a place among the top 25 ofDon Balón's ranking of the world's best footballers under age 21.[25]
By the start of 2016, Donnarumma had firmly supplanted López as the first-choice goalkeeper for Milan,[26] who subsequently offered him a revised, three-year contract.[27] His first appearance in theDerby della Madonnina, Milan's crosstown rivalry withInternazionale, came on 31 January 2016; the clash ended in a 3–0 victory after he stoppedÉder from scoring.[28] In March, he was briefly hospitalised after suffering a head injury in an on-pitch collision with Chievo'sFabrizio Cacciatore.[29] Donnarumma featured ahead of Abbiati in Milan's 1–0 defeat toJuventus in theCoppa Italia Final, as the club failed to qualify for European competition at the end of the season.[30]
In the club's opening league match of the2016–17 season againstTorino, on 21 August 2016, Donnarumma saved the first penalty of his professional career; he stoppedAndrea Belotti's shot in injury time, which enabled Milan to seal a 3–2 victory at home.[31][32] He kept his first clean sheet of the season in the 1–0 victory againstSampdoria on 16 September.[33] On 23 December, Donnarumma helped lead Milan to victory in theSupercoppa Italiana, savingPaulo Dybala's penalty in a 4–3 shoot-out win following a 1–1 draw after extra time.[34] On 15 June 2017, it was initially announced that Donnarumma would not be renewing his contract with Milan,[35] however on 11 July, after much speculation, he renewed with Milan until 2021.[36] Under the terms of a new contract, negotiated by agentMino Raiola on behalf of the player, Donnarumma's annual salary rose to €6 million; the deal also included a verbal agreement to sign his older brother,Antonio, as a backup goalkeeper with an annual salary of €1 million.[37]
Donnarumma played his first European game in a 1–0 win againstUniversitatea Craiova in the first leg of Milan'sEuropa League third-round qualification match on 27 July 2017, in which he managed to keep a clean sheet.[38] He also kept another clean sheet in the second leg the following week, as Milan beat their opponent 2–0.[39] He kept his third consecutive clean sheet in the competition in Milan's 6–0 win againstShkëndija in thefirst leg of the play-off round.[40] He kept another clean sheet in his first match in new Serie A season againstCrotone.[41] On 30 December, Donnarumma played his 100th game for Milan in a 1–1 draw againstFiorentina;[42] becoming the youngest player to make 100 appearances with Milan's jersey.[43] On 28 February 2018, following a 0–0 aggregate draw after extra-time, Donnarumma saved two penalties in a 5–4 shoot-out victory overLazio in the second leg of theCoppa Italia semi-finals in Rome, which allowed Milan to advance to the final of the competition.[44] On 15 April, Donnarumma became the youngest player to reach 100 appearances in Serie A, aged 19 years and 49 days, after a 0–0 home draw againstNapoli.[45] On 9 May, Donnarumma started in Milan's 4–0 defeat to Juventus in theCoppa Italia final, who won their fourth consecutive title.[46]
During the 2019–20 season, Donnarumma maintained his place in the starting line-up.[54] On 21 July 2020, he played his 200th game for the club in a 2–1 away win over Sassuolo in Serie A, during which he wore the captain's armband for the first time in his career, afterAlessio Romagnoli was subbed off due to injury.[55][56] Following his performances throughout the season, in March 2021, he was named the 2020Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year byAIC and named to theSerie A Team of the Year at theGran Galà del Calcio, the first time in his career that he had received this honour.[57]
In the 2020–21 season, Donnarumma continued to be a starting goalkeeper (withCiprian Tătărușanu as a primary back-up) and the team's occasional captain, in particular during the latter part of season. He appeared in all but one game in Serie A and 11 times in the Europa League as Milan finished second and reached the round of 16, respectively. Prior to and during the season, the club's management made numerous attempts to extend Donnarumma's expiring contract yet failed to meet the player's wage demands of €1 million per month as well as €20 million in agent commission forMino Raiola and pulled out of the negotiation in late May 2021.[58]
On 26 May 2021, Milan director of footballPaolo Maldini confirmed that Donnarumma would leave Milan when his contract expired on 30 June. During his time with Milan, Donnarumma made 251 appearances for the club in all competitions, keeping 88 clean sheets, and played a key role in helping the club finish second in Serie A (and qualify for theChampions League for the first time since 2014) in hisfinal season.[59] For his performances, Donnarumma was namedLega Serie A Best Goalkeeper.[60]
On 16 June 2021, Donnarumma agreed to a five-year contract withLigue 1 clubParis Saint-Germain (PSG), as reported byFabrizio Romano andThe Guardian.[61] According to reports, PSG offered him a salary of €12 million after tax per season.[62] He passed his medical inFlorence on 21 June.[63] On 15 July, Donnarumma officially joined PSG and signed a five-year contract until 30 June 2026.[64] Donnarumma made his debut for PSG in a 4–0league win overClermont on 11 September.[65] He made hisUEFA Champions League debut in a 2–0 win overManchester City on 28 September.[66] On 3 November, Donnarumma saved his first PSG and Champions League penalty in a 2–2 draw againstRB Leipzig.[67] On 29 November, Donnarumma won theYashin Trophy, awarded to the best performing goalkeeper of the year.[68]
On 25 October 2023, exactly eight years after making his senior debut for Milan, Donnarumma faced his former club for the first time as an opponent in a UEFA Champions League group stage match at theParc des Princes, where PSG claimed a 3–0 victory.[69] On 7 November, in the return leg which Milan won 2–1, thousands of Milan supporters threw custom banknotes bearing the name "Dollarumma" onto the pitch, mocking him for leaving the club to join PSG on a free transfer.[70]
On 11 August 2025, Donnarumma was left out of the PSG squad for the2025 UEFA Super Cup after the arrival of new goalkeeperLucas Chevalier.[82] The following day, Donnarumma announced that he would be departing from the French club as a result of being left out.[83]
Manchester City
On 2 September 2025,Premier League clubManchester City announced the signing of Donnarumma on a five-year deal, with an option for a further year, for a reported transfer fee of £26 million.[84][85] On 14 September, he made his debut for the club in theManchester derby, keeping a clean sheet in a 3–0 home victory overManchester United.[86] On 22 September, Donnarumma won the Yashin Award.[87]
Though predicted to attend the2016 UEFA European Championship, Donnarumma did not makeAntonio Conte's final squad for the tournament.[30] On 27 August, he was called up to thesenior squad byGian Piero Ventura for a friendly againstFrance on 1 September and a2018 World Cup qualification match on 5 September againstIsrael, making him the youngest player, aged 17 years and six months, to be called up to the senior squad since 1911.[93] On 1 September, in the match against France, Donnarumma made his senior debut, subbing outGianluigi Buffon at the half-time mark of a 3–1 home loss; theyoungest goalkeeper to ever play for Italy aged 17 years and 189 days.[94][95] On 28 March 2017, he made his first starting appearance in a 2–1 away win over theNetherlands; the youngest goalkeeper for Italy to do so aged 18 years and 31 days.[96]
Widely regarded as the heir of Buffon, following the international retirement of the latter in 2018, Donnarumma was chosen as the first-choice goalkeeper by the new head coachRoberto Mancini and played as a starter in all the matches of the2018–19 UEFA Nations League disputed by theAzzurri.
2021–present: Euro 2020 triumph and Euro 2024
Donnarumma (top, second from right) lining up for Italy in 2021
In June 2021, Donnarumma was included in Italy's squad forUEFA Euro 2020.[97] In his first game at the competition, on 11 June againstTurkey, he kept a clean sheet in a 3–0 win for Italy.[98] He kept clean sheets in Italy's next two group wins againstSwitzerland andWales, coming off for Salvatore Sirigu late on in the final group match.[99] During the round of 16 match againstAustria, he helped Italy's defence breakDino Zoff's record for the longest unbeaten streak in international matches, which he had set between 1972 and 1974; the unbeaten streak finally came to an end during the same match, after 1,168 minutes, followingSaša Kalajdžić's goal in the 114th minute, as Italy won the match 2–1 in extra-time. Donnarumma played for 987 minutes of the current record, sharing it withSalvatore Sirigu,Alessio Cragno, andAlex Meret, who each played for 91, 63, and 27 minutes respectively.[100] In the semi-final againstSpain on 6 July, following a 1–1 draw after extra-time, he savedÁlvaro Morata's spot-kick to help Italy to a 4–2 penalty shoot-out victory, which allowed Italy to advance to thefinal of the tournament.[101] On 11 July, in the final againstEngland atWembley Stadium, following a 1–1 draw after extra-time, Donnarumma saved two spot kicks during the penalty shootout, including the decisive final kick, to win the tournament for Italy for the first time since1968.[102] For his performances throughout the competition, including keeping three clean sheets, making nine saves, and conceding only four goals in seven appearances, he was namedPlayer of the Tournament byUEFA,[4] the first time a goalkeeper had won the award.[103]
Donnarumma captaining Italy in 2025
On 10 October 2021, he captained his national team for the first time in a 2–1 win againstBelgium during theNations League Finals third place play-off, which made him the youngest Azzurri captain sinceGianni Rivera in 1965.[104][105]
Donnarumma was named captain of the Italy squad forUEFA Euro 2024 in May 2024.[106] In Italy's final group match on 24 June, a 1–1 draw againstCroatia, he saved a penalty from goalscorerLuka Modrić; the result saw Italy advance to the knock-out stages in second place in their group, behind Spain.[107] Italy were eliminated from the tournament in the round of 16 following a 2–0 loss to Switzerland.[108]
Style of play
Long considered one of Italy's most exciting prospects, and one of the most promising young footballers of his generation, Donnarumma is widely regarded as the successor toGianluigi Buffon.[24][7][109][110] Buffon himself has in turn praised his physical strength and technical abilities, mental composure and decision making.[111] Predicting an "extraordinary career" in his future,[112] he commended Donnarumma's maturity and ability to cope with the pressures of being a goalkeeper at such a young age.[113] Another of Italy'sWorld Cup-winning goalkeepers,Dino Zoff, similarly said Donnarumma seems "predestined to become a great goalkeeper," adding that "it all depends completely on him."[114] Former Milan and Italy goalkeeperGiovanni Galli also described Donnarumma as a potentially world-class goalkeeper, applauding him for his discipline, intelligence, concentration, and professionalism, despite his young age.[115]
"He has great talent and I think he can do more than I did with Milan's colours, because he is very young ... Gigio has already demonstrated his value, and I think he's going to develop even more.", —Former Milan keeperDida on Donnarumma[116]
A 2015ESPN profile praised Donnarumma's fundamental goalkeeping skills, identifying his large slender frame and reach, agility, and composed nature as his biggest strengths; writer Nick Dorrington additionally described the teenager as "a natural leader [with] the necessary confidence to organise a defence featuring players twice his age."[13][24] Despite his tall and imposing stature,[13] Donnarumma possesses good reactions,[117] and is highly effective at stopping penalties.[118] Matt Jones has also praised Donnarumma for his shot-stopping ability, and speed when rushing off his line to face opponents in one on one situations.[119] Former Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati touted Donnarumma as a potential futurecaptain for Milan in 2016, noting that Donnarumma's temperament, introverted character, and ability to withstand pressure were all the necessary qualities needed for him to succeed in this role.[120] Although Donnarumma is regarded as being competent with the ball at his feet, pundits such as Mina Rzouki, Paolo Menicucci, and Sam Lopresti, as well as former goalkeeperFernando Orsi, have cited his ball control and distribution, as well as his overall consistency, positioning, handling, punching technique, and his ability to defend crosses and command his box as areas in which he needs to improve as he gains more experience.[13][24][120][121][122][123]
Although Donnarumma's ability to live up to his potential was initially brought into question following his move to Paris Saint–Germain, in part due to his inconsistency and several errors he made as a result of his perceived weaknesses when playing with his feet,[79][124][125] he later established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world at the club,[126][127][128][129][130] in particular under the guidance of managerLuis Enrique, who initially dropped him for reserve keeperMatvey Safonov, who was better suited to the manager's playing style, which involved building plays from the back under pressure.[79][126][131][132][133] However, Donnarumma worked to improve his composure, ability with his feet, and his command of his area, and won back Enrique's faith in him, as well as his place in the starting line-up.[79][131][132][134][135] During theclub's 2024–25 treble-winning season, he stood out for his all-round goalkeeping abilities, being praised in particular in the media for his positioning, shot-stopping, athleticism, reflexes, ability to stop penalties, and cover the goal with his frame, as well as his improved ability to come off his line and claim crosses.[79][126][128][131][132][134]
Personal life
Since 2017, Donnarumma has been in a relationship with Alessia Elefante.[136] In July 2023, Donnarumma and Elefante were attacked at his home in Paris during a robbery.[137] In September 2024, the couple welcomed their first child, Leo.[138]
^Bianchin, Luca (24 March 2016)."Under 21, le pagelle di Irlanda-Italia" [Under 21, the report cards of Ireland-Italy] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved25 March 2016.
^abStronge, Mark White Contributions from Isaac Stacey; Mewis, Joe; Holt, Matthew; Chicken, Steven; published, Ewan Gennery (16 June 2025)."Ranked! The 10 best goalkeepers in the world".FourFourTwo. Retrieved30 June 2025.
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