Manchester City have reached a verbal agreement with Arminia Bielefeld goalkeeper Stefan Ortega ahead of the new season.
The 29-year-old keeper is set to head to the city of Manchester this summer and don the blue kit next season. Manchester City have a deal in place to sign the keeper from the German club on a free transfer.
Ortega relished an impressive campaign with the club which saw him obtain six clean sheets this season. Moreover, his performances on the pitch did not go unnoticed as the keeper was linked to a number of clubs in the transfer window.
Later he was noticed by the scouts of 1860 München, who made his transfer possible back in 2014, and spent three seasons with the club. Bielefeld again made a transfer possible in 2017 for the keeper, where he enjoyed his breakthrough performances with the club.
The German international had been previously linked to a move to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich where he could play as a second fiddle to Manuel Neuer. Ortega was also a part of the German national team during their campaign in the Euro 2020.
However, now it appears as though the English Champions are set to make a swoop for Ortega and include him in the squad. Ortega rose up from the youth ranks at Bielefeld and got his spot in the first team.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano took to Twitter to share the update on Ortega’s possible move to the English top-flight:
Stefan Ortega has a verbal agreement in place with Manchester City. He’s now waiting for the green light from the club, as they’re looking for a solution for Zack Steffen. 🔵 #MCFC
Ortega has other proposals but he’s waiting for City as second goalkeeper. pic.twitter.com/fXWBRonCyE
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 24, 2022
Poised to join Manchester City, Ortega is set to play as a backup to their main man, Ederson. His attribute to play the ball comfortably with his feet and making crucial passes from the back as a keeper is something the gaffer Pep Guardiola would like to have in his squad.
Although the keeper understands that he will be a backup to Ederson, he would not mind partnering and getting groomed under Pep’s management. Moreover, the keeper could be picked up in many of the initial rounds of the FA Cup and the EFL Cup matches to gain experience.
With the new ambience at Manchester and considering the fact that the club is touted to be favorites in almost every competition, Ortega would enjoy his time at the Mancunian side and would be ready to take the English top-flight by storm.
It is only a matter of time before the club officially announces the arrival of the German Keeper to the blue side of Manchester. It will be interesting to note if he is capable to push Ederson to the regular spot next season.
