Manchester City have announced perhaps their most surprising signing of the summer, with goalkeeper Stefan Ortega replacing Zack Steffen on a free transfer.
The 29-year-old German has swapped recently relegated Bundesliga outfit Arminia Bielefeld for the Etihad, signing a three-year deal to provide competition for Ederson.
He has been handed the number 18 shirt, meaning the coveted number one traditionally worn by goalkeepers is still vacant after the departure of Claudio Bravo two years ago.
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And City fans will note have to wait long to see their new man in action, with a competitive debut for the goalkeeper possibly coming as soon as this month.
Ortega is likely to play a part in City’s pre-season USA friendlies, the first of which is against Club América in Houston, Texas, kicking off at 01:30 AM [UK] on Thursday 21st July.
Days later, Pep Guardiola’s side are in action again against Bayern Munich, the giants of Ortega’s home country.
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That match kicks off at 00:00 [BST] on Sunday 24th July - that’s midnight between Saturday and Sunday, in case you were wondering, in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
It’s possible that the club schedules further friendlies before the start of the season, and City Xtra will bring you that news if it happens.
Pep Guardiola has started his backup goalkeeper in every Community Shield since he joined Manchester City, and we assume the next will be no different.
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That could mean Ortega makes his competitive debut for the club against Liverpool at the King Power Stadium (Wembley is busy hosting the Women’s European Championships) on Sunday 30th July.
He will be hoping to fare better than City managed last year, when Leicester City beat the Cityzens 1-0 to lift the trophy just months after emerging victorious in the FA Cup.
But Ortega may have to wait a while to make his first appearance at the Etihad Stadium.
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Unlike previous seasons, City don’t enter the Carabao Cup until the week starting on 7th November 2022, just days before the Premier League halts to make way for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The final competition in which we can expect to see Ortega don his gloves is the FA Cup.
City enter in the third round of the tournament, with games centred around the weekend of the 7th-8th January 2023.
Ortega will hope to lift some silverware throughout his time with City, and his performances in these domestic cups could prove crucial to both his chances and those of the club.
Topics: Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours, Manchester City, Premier League, Stefan Ortega, Pep Guardiola
Nathan Allen