Manchester City have re-signed James Trafford from Premier League newcomers Burnley for £27million, despite reports claiming the fee would initially be higher than that.
It was believed that Trafford would become the most expensive English goalkeeper, but Jordan Pickford’s £30m move from Sunderland to Everton in 2017 holds the current record for that position.
Trafford follows Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Marcus Bettinelli and Sverre Nypan as City’s summer transfer window signings.
James Trafford keeps Wilson Isidor waiting to take his penalty… and it pays off!
The scores stay level thanks to Trafford’s spot-kick save 🧤 pic.twitter.com/FdUxGjSFDj
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 17, 2025
Why have Man City re-signed James Trafford?
Trafford left the Etihad Stadium for Turf Moor in 2023 but City insisted on a re-signing option because of his long-term potential.
With uncertainty still surrounding the future of Ederson, Trafford could become City’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Galatasaray have reportedly held talks with Brazil international Ederson, although City are yet to indicate whether they wish to sell the 31-year-old, who has less than 12 months left on his contract.
Ederson has made 372 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side and is the most decorated goalkeeper in the club’s history.
Former City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver told BBC Radio Manchester earlier this month that he expects Ederson to leave.
“He’s set his standards so high, so last season and the Club World Cup were probably not at the standard he’d expect from himself,” said Weaver.
“But I don’t think this is a reaction and wanting to leave because of that. He’s into the last year of his deal and City don’t let players run their contracts down like this for players they really, really want to keep.
“You would imagine over the last year or so there has been talks with the hierarchy at City over extending his stay but for whatever reason that has not come to fruition.
“The fact City have let the situation creep into the last year of his contract gives the player a lot more power in deciding what he wants to do.
“The ideal situation for me is he stays at City but it’s looking increasingly likely that he will go.”
James Trafford stats
Trafford joined City as a 12-year-old in August 2015 and had a brief loan spell at Accrington Stanley in 2021/22 before joining Bolton Wanderers in January of that season, keeping clean sheets in each of his first four games.
He returned to Bolton the following season and kept 26 clean sheets as Wanderers reached the League One play-offs, earning a place in the third-tier team of the year.
After joining promoted Burnley for a fee of up to £19m, Trafford had a torrid first season as the club were relegated from the Premier League, losing his starting place for the final 10 games of the campaign.
With Trafford reinstalled in goal and completing every minute of all but one of their 46 league games, Burnley returned to the top flight automatically last season with the best defensive record of any team across the Premier League and EFL. Trafford won the Championship Golden Glove.
James Trafford England record
A regular for England at youth levels, Trafford made his name at the Euro Under-21 finals in 2023, becoming the first goalkeeper in the history of the competition to not concede throughout six games at the tournament.
Lee Carsley’s side preserved their 1-0 lead over Spain in the final courtesy of a Trafford penalty save during second-half added time.
He is yet to make his senior debut but was unfortunate not to be part of the squad for Euro 2024, having made England’s provisional squad.
Carsley called Trafford up during his brief spell as interim senior manager, naming him on the bench against Greece and Ireland in the Nations League in November 2024.
New permanent manager Thomas Tuchel named Trafford in his matchday squad for the 3-1 friendly defeat to Senegal at the City Ground in June 2025.
Man City transfers 2025/26
Netherlands midfielder Reijnders joined City for £46m from Milan, while France’s Cherki cost an initial fee of more than £30m from Lyon.
Left-sided wideman Ait-Nouri arrived from Wolves for £31m transfer, and goalkeeper Bettinelli provides back-up for a nominal fee from Chelsea until 2026.
Norway under-21 midfielder Sverre Nypan signed from Norwegian side Rosenborg for £12.5 million on a five-year contract.
When does Man City’s 2025/26 Premier League season start?
The first round of Premier League matches in 2025/26 will be on the weekend of August 16 2025, with City visiting Wolves that day at 17:30 BST (12:30 ET / 09:30 PT).
The game is being shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Premier League, Ultra and Main Event.
The last round of matches this season will all start at the same time on May 24 2026. No rounds will take place within 60 hours of each other and there will be no fixture on December 24.
