football transfer
Bielefeld keeper Stefan Ortega is moving to Manchester City
Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega will play on the island in the future
© Friso Gentsch / DPA
It’s perfect: Stefan Ortega, previously goalkeeper at Arminia Bielefeld, is moving to English champions Manchester City. There he will probably be number 2 behind the Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson.
Instead of being relegated to the second division, keeper Stefan Ortega is now in the Champions League. The Bielefeld goalkeeper changes from Bundesliga relegated to English soccer champions Manchester City. The 29-year-old signed a three-year contract with the club coached by Pep Guardiola and striker Erling Haaland, who was brought in from Dortmund.
Although Ortega is expected to be the number two behind the Brazilian national goalkeeper Ederson, he can still hope for a few appearances due to the large number of competitive games in England and the local culture of often relying on the reserve goalkeeper in cup games. “I believe that I can play a more important role at City than many people give me credit for,” said Ortega. “My development is definitely not over yet.”
Also under discussion at FC Bayern and Schalke
After his contract expired, the German-Spaniard was rumored to be number two at champions FC Bayern Munich and regular keeper at Bundesliga returnees FC Schalke 04. “Over the last year I’ve had to deal with different club options,” he said now: “It’s all the nicer now to have this feeling that waiting and trusting in the right solution will ultimately result in this contract.” He thanked Arminia Bielefeld fans, “but City and the Premier League were just too good for me to turn down. I can’t wait to get started, meet my team-mates and work with Pep and his staff.”
Manchester’s sporting director Txiki Begiristain described the transfer as “a very good deal for City. Ortega, who was born near Kassel and has also been traded for the national team, played for Arminia for a total of twelve years. “Of course we are incredibly proud that that a player trained in the academy is now playing in one of the best teams in the world for the really big trophies,” the East Westphalians tweeted.