Goalkeeper will leave ‘the place I call home’ only a year after returning, but it is a good move for everyone involved
Leeds United are set to agree a deal with Manchester City to sign goalkeeper James Trafford.
Trafford is a talented goalkeeper, and more than a few people of the City persuasion will be disappointed he is leaving just a year after returning to “the place I call home”.
The England international has been somewhat on the road since coming through City’s academy. He left for Burnley in 2023, spending two years at Turf Moor – one in the Premier League and the other in the Championship – and put in impressive performances in a combined 78 appearances that convinced City to exercise their right of first refusal and re-sign him.
However, a shaky performance against Tottenham in the early weeks of last season put a question mark on his ability to play at the level City required, at least in the immediate term, and convinced Pep Guardiola and the recruitment department to make a move for Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was available at the time.
Donnarumma, when he arrived, said he was ready to compete with Trafford for the No 1 role, but given the Italian’s pedigree and his famed shot-stopping abilities, there was, and still is, little competition to be had.
As to be expected, the Italian has remained the first choice since, with Trafford making only 13 appearances last season, with just six in the Premier League. Guardiola praised his abilities in press conferences and said he would “sooner or later” become No 1 for England. He joined the Three Lions in the Americas this summer and he may indeed have a bright future, but he has to be playing consistently to realise it.
In assessing his season and lack of playing time towards the end of last term, the 23-year-old said it “wasn’t what I expected” and he had “tried to guard against the situation happening”. A move to Leeds this summer would be chance to get right back on track.
It’s a move that suits both goalkeeper and club. It would be a waste for City to have a prospect like Trafford getting so limited time, in both footballing and financial terms. The deal with Leeds is worth £40m plus add-ons, which is at least £13m profit on what City paid when they brought Trafford back to the Etihad last summer, and for a goalkeeper who did not get a chance to improve on the pitch whatsoever in that space of time.
If the move is completed, Trafford will become Leeds’ third arrival of the summer after the permanent signing of Tarik Muharemovic from Sassuolo and the free transfer of Harry Wilson following his departure from Fulham. He would be strengthening their goalkeeping options after Karl Darlow left on a free transfer to Manchester United, and most importantly, he would be the undisputed No 1.
Newcastle had identified him as their goalkeeping target and revived their pursuit after City beat them to it last summer. But they have since ended their interest because they were unhappy with the fee, leaving Leeds clear to seal the move.
It may not exactly be what either side expected when Trafford described his return to City as “a special and proud moment” last summer, but it is a good deal for everyone involved.
