Agents vote Hugo Viana and Manchester City transfer as the best summer signing of 2025 market

One piece of business completed by Manchester City over the summer transfer window has now received the ultimate praise from a selection of football agents.

The arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma at Manchester City continues to earn widespread praise from supporters and now the deal has been recognised by those closest to the transfer business itself.

Following months of attention over City’s summer activity under sporting director Hugo Viana, the Italian goalkeeper’s move from Paris Saint-Germain has been voted the best signing of the 2025 market by a panel of football agents.

Donnarumma joined Pep Guardiola’s side in late August after the Premier League giants acted with intent to strengthen their goalkeeping department amid uncertainty surrounding Ederson’s future.

His arrival represented both a financial coup and a sporting statement, with Manchester City paying what many would deem to be a fraction of his true market value due to PSG’s tactical shift and the player’s eagerness for a new challenge as a direct result.

Since arriving in Manchester, the 25-year-old has already established himself as a commanding figure between the posts, delivering a series of decisive saves and earning the Premier League Save of the Month award for September.

Now, as per a new study completed by The Athletic – questioning a selection of 20 unnamed football agents on transfer market business over the summer – Gianluigi Donnarumma’s move to Manchester City from Paris Saint-Germain was the deal of the recent summer window.

When explaining their decision, one unnamed player representative said, “I also thought about Jack Grealish (to Everton). I know he’s a loan and you pay a lot for wages, but you’re not paying a (transfer) fee for a player of that calibre who has obviously got the bit between his teeth.

“But I think Donnarumma really pushes City back in the (Premier League) title mix. He will save them points this season. So he’s the best signing, especially given what they paid for him.”

Another agent explained, “So much money is spent on other positions, but I still think the goalkeeper is undervalued. I think Donnarumma is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, if not the best.

“So to pick him up for peanuts, just because Paris Saint-Germain want to play in a different style, is very impressive.”

A further representative added on their vote, “He (Gianluigi Donnarumma) might not be the best with his feet, but he’s the best shot-stopper in the world and that was probably what City needed.”

Tijjani Reijnders’ move from AC Milan to Manchester City off the back of his stellar individual campaign in Italian football last season also received recognition from football agents, claiming one vote as being the deal of the summer window.

Survey: The Athletic

For Hugo Viana and Manchester City, such industry recognition represents an early vindication of their recruitment strategy – one that prioritised balance and value over perhaps headline spending.

Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arrival, alongside Reijnders’ midfield addition and other names such as Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri, has been viewed internally as part of a broader structural refresh intended to extend Pep Guardiola’s dominance later into his contract.

Looking ahead, Manchester City will hope that Donnarumma’s influence continues to grow as the season progresses, particularly with major fixtures on the horizon and ambitions across all four competitions.

If his current trajectory continues, the Italian’s move could well prove to be one of the most impactful transfers in recent Premier League history, both in terms of performance and long-term stability in goal.