Marcos Leonardo scores past Ederson
Ederson had a difficult night for City in their Club World Cup defeat to Al Hilal
The Manchester City team that beat Wydad AC 2-0 in the opening round of games at the Club World Cup was the second youngest fielded among the 32 teams that week. This intriguing stat offered so much hope for Pep Guardiola for a while.
There was a freshness about in America in those early weeks. Three convincing wins in the group stages suggested they were getting their mojo back, with the squad benefiting from a major refresh, but that optimism was halted by the 4-3 defeat to Al Hilal in Orlando.
It might not have been the strongest side available to , but the starting XI against Wydad had an average age of 23.4 and included just two players over the age of 26, in 30-year-old Nathan Ake and Ederson (31).
By the time they played Al Hilal, the average age had crept up to 26.9, partly due to the presence of 34-year-old Ilkay Gundogan. Bernardo and were the only other 30-somethings on the team.
This is partly as a result of the squad overhaul that City have been carrying out in recent years. New signings have tended to be young, and it now feels like there is youth in every position and players in their prime all over the pitch. A squad that had won everything together has gradually been refreshed and partly rebuilt.
If there is one area that clearly needs attention next, it is goalkeeper. In 2025 alone, there have been new signings in defence, midfield and attack, but the arrival of 33-year-old Marcus Bettinelli, while offering a new voice in the goalkeeping group, isn't going to change the dynamics when it comes to selection.
For all the questions about Ederson and Stefan Ortega's futures towards the end of last season, it appears both will stay at the Etihad for one more season. Ederson will turn 32 in August, and Ortega will be 33 in November, so it is clear neither man can now be considered the future.
Ederson suffered injury issues last season and was close to a move to the Saudi Pro League in 2024. He had a difficult game against Al Hilal, and having flirted with leaving the club recently, there is an awareness that even if he stays this season, a replacement is likely to be required in 2026.
Ortega has been a reliable No. 2, but last season suggested he isn't the answer as an Ederson replacement for the long term, even ignoring the fact that he is older than the current incumbent. The German has given consideration to pushing to be a first-choice elsewhere in recent seasons.
At a time when the City squad has been at least partially rebuilt around a focus on youth thanks to signings such as Josko Gvardiol, Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki, they have three goalkeepers in their 30s.
There is a case to be made for signing a younger goalkeeper to compete with Ederson this season rather than risk a scenario next summer when City must sign a new first- and second-choice goalkeeper. But whichever approach is taken, it's clear that new director of football Hugo Viana will need to focus significantly on the goalkeeper market in the months ahead.
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