James Trafford has started the journey to becoming England’s future No.1 by sealing his record-breaking £40million transfer to Leeds United.
The 23-year-old, who was an unused back-up to Jordan Pickford at the World Cup, has officially left Manchester City for a second time.
Trafford had been keen to leave City in search of a No.1 job at another Premier League club, as previously revealed by talkSPORT.
The goalkeeper, a former Newcastle target, played just 17 times after returning to his boyhood club from Burnley last summer.
Trafford rejoined the Etihad set-up last summer in a £27million deal – just two years after Pep Guardiola sanctioned his £14m exit.
He started in the opening three Premier League games of the season, but City’s deadline-day swoop for Gianluigi Donnarumma relegated him to a No.2 role for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
Trafford ultimately made only one more top-flight appearance under Pep Guardiola, but kept eight clean sheets across all competitions to help the club claim a domestic double.
He has now signed a five-year deal at Elland Road to become Leeds’ highest-paid player.
Leeds also revealed they paid a club-record fee for Trafford of £40m, plus add-ons.
Leeds get their man
Whites boss Daniel Farke was in desperate need of reinforcements between the sticks following a flurry of exits in that department.
Illan Meslier and Karl Darlow have already both left Leeds this summer, to back-up roles at Arsenal and Man United respectively.
Meanwhile, Brazilian shot-stopper Lucas Perri is closing in on a switch to Italian outfit Torino.
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