While City are well-stocked when it comes to goalkeepers, with Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford acting as the number one and two respectively, Ortega’s departure sees manager Guardiola lose a player for whom he holds a strong affinity.
After joining City from German outfit Armenia Bielefeld in 2022, Ortega has made 56 appearances under Guardiola’s stewardship, helping the club win seven major honours including a historic treble during the 2022-23 season.
In perhaps his greatest moment in a City shirt, Ortega made an all-important one-on-one save to deny Son Heung-min and help his side secure a crucial three points over Tottenham Hotspur in May 2024.
Both Ortega’s save and City’s victory had a huge bearing on the Premier League title race that season, as Guardiola’s men eventually pipped Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal to the league crown by two points.
Following his heroics against Spurs, Guardiola said of Ortega: “He saves us – otherwise Arsenal are champions. That is the reality. The margins are so tight. The save from Son. It was incredible. One-on-one, Stefan is one of the best keepers I’ve seen in my life. It’s the German culture – stand up, don’t go down.”