Trafford joins Leeds from Man City in potential £45m deal

Leeds United has secured the signature of Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford in a potential £45 million deal. The young English international arrived at Etihad Stadium last summer after leaving Burnley for £27 million. Trafford, who was part of England’s World Cup squad but didn’t play, made 17 appearances for City last season, with four of those coming in the Premier League.

He was integral to City’s triumphs in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. Trafford’s move to Leeds comes after the arrival of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma at City in September, which eliminated his chances of becoming the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. This transfer represents a new record fee for a British goalkeeper, surpassing the previous record set by Everton’s £30 million payment to Sunderland for Jordan Pickford in 2017.

Trafford now joins a select group of highly-paid goalkeepers, with only Kepa Arrizabalaga (£68 million) and Alisson (£62 million) commanding higher fees. Leeds’ investment in Trafford, who played 29 clean sheets and had an impressive 84.47% save ratio at Burnley during the 2024-25 season, could position him as a strong contender for the England goalkeeper spot.