Inside Man City's chaotic deadline day - goalkeeper theory, late Gundogan call and Akanji surprise

Manchester City endured a frantic end to the transfer window but got one final big deal over the line as the deadline passed.

The signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma capped off City's transfer window(Image: Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)

It summed up the final few weeks of Manchester City's summer transfer window that Gianluigi Donnarumma had to undergo a medical in Italy to complete a deal that was first seriously mooted almost three weeks ago.

Donnarumma's arrival as City's new No. 1 and Ederson's departure have been in the works for so long that it felt surprising that they were still being finalised late on Monday night, with City having to submit a deal sheet to the Premier League to prove all was in order with the Italian's arrival by the 7pm deadline.

While other clubs gradually got their announcements out as the clock ticked on, and on, and on, City remained silent. The deals were done, but confirmation of them only arrived on Tuesday morning.

It was the second week of August when City ramped up talks for Donnarumma, spotting a market opportunity after Luis Enrique ostracised him at Paris St-Germain. That came at a point when Galatasaray were still sniffing around Ederson, who had been expected to see out the final year of his Etihad contract.

When James Trafford returned to City at the end of July, completing a £27million move to Burnley, it was the intention for the 22-year-old to compete with Ederson, a decade older than him, and Stefan Ortega to leave the club. Fast-forward five weeks, and Ederson has left, Ortega has stayed, and Trafford is now in competition with one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

But if much of what has happened has felt unlike City in the first window helmed by director of football Hugo Viana, deadline day did at least dawn with some much-needed clarity. While Ederson was sitting on the bench at Brighton on Sunday, City and Fenerbahce were thrashing out the terms of a transfer.

By early Monday morning, the Brazilian was all set to head to Istanbul to complete his £12million move. When City got word that the deal was progressing, they started putting the finishing touches to Donnarumma's move from PSG for a flat fee of £26million. With the 26-year-old on international duty, he had to undergo his medical and sign his five-year contract, with the option of an extra 12 months, in Italy.

Early on, there was confidence that both of those deals would get done, but for a while, there was little major movement elsewhere and only uncertainty. City's squad still had too many non-homegrown players, and the clock was ticking.

There had been interest in Manuel Akanji recently, with the Swiss international keen to stay in the Champions League and a loan move looking likely.

City were pleasantly surprised to strike such a quick deal with Inter Milan, not only confirming a loan for the 30-year-old but inserting an obligation into the deal that they feel is achievable. Inter need to win Serie A with Akanji playing more than half of the games for a £13million transfer to be activated.

There was less pressure to find a move for Ilkay Gundogan, with the expectation in the final days of the window that he would be more likely to depart after the deadline to Turkey or Saudi Arabia. In the end, Galatasaray made their move, and that deal is likely to be confirmed today. The Turkish giants are keen to include the veteran midfielder in their Champions League squad, which must be registered by 11pm tonight.

The arrival of Donnarumma completed a busy summer for City, but after two defeats in three games to start the season and Liverpool spending £125million on Alexander Isak, it was also a day of frustration for plenty of supporters.

City's issues at right-back were again exposed at Brighton on Sunday, with Matheus Nunes struggling after he was promoted to the starting XI ahead of Rico Lewis.

Despite the well-publicised concerns over the position and interest in Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento in June, City were never in the hunt for a right-back in the final days of the window.

Instead, it was a right-back who headed a list of loan exits, with 24-year-old Issa Kabore heading to Championship newcomers Wrexham for the season. Kabore is five years into his City career but has had six loan spells and is yet to make a senior appearance for the club. The deal doesn't include an option to buy.

Elsewhere, Mahamaduo Susoho joined Livingston for the season, Lakyle Samuel will spend the campaign at Bromley and Will Dickson is heading to Chesterfield.