Leeds United have completed the signing of goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City in a deal reaching £45m. The 23-year-old England international departs the Etihad Stadium just one year after Manchester City exercised a buy-back option following his stint at Burnley.
Trafford, who was part of the England squad during the recent World Cup, faced limited opportunities at City last term, making only 17 appearances. His path to becoming the club’s number one was effectively closed following the September signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma. This transfer sets a new record for a British goalkeeper, exceeding the £30m Everton spent on Jordan Pickford in 2017, and ranks among the highest fees ever paid for a player in his position.
The agreement includes a 20% sell-on clause for Manchester City alongside matching rights, allowing the Premier League side to potentially reclaim the player if they match future bids. Leeds manager Daniel Farke targeted Trafford to bolster his squad following the departures of Illan Meslier and Karl Darlow. Although his Premier League experience is limited, Trafford previously demonstrated significant potential at Burnley, where his defensive contributions were instrumental in their promotion success.
