PRESS RELEASE SOURCE : THE ATHLETIC
Leeds United are set to agree a deal to sign James Trafford from Manchester City.
The deal is worth £40million plus bonuses and is in the process of being finalised. He is set to become Leeds’ third signing of the summer following the arrivals of Tarik Muharemovic from Sassuolo and Harry Wilson as a free agent after leaving Fulham.
The Athletic reported on Thursday that Leeds were in talks with the goalkeeper, who was leaning towards a move to Elland Road.
Leeds are seeking a goalkeeper after Karl Darlow, who ended last season as No 1, departed on a free transfer to Manchester United. Lucas Perri remains at the club, having been displaced by Darlow during the 2025-26 season, with Alex Cairns also in the squad.
Newcastle United had been among Trafford’s suitors this summer with The Athletic reporting on July 21 that he had been their primary option, but they were no longer considering a move.
The Athletic reported in June that the north-east club rekindled their interest in the 23 year old, having been in talks to sign him last summer, before he re-joined Manchester City from Burnley. They had also been interested in signing him in 2024.
Trafford made 17 appearances in the 2025-26 campaign, including playing every match in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup as City lifted both trophies.
He returned to City last year under the impression he would be first choice, but the addition of Gianluigi Donnarumma on deadline day saw Trafford act as the Italian’s understudy. Trafford said in February that being No 2 “wasn’t what I expected” and that he “tried to guard against the situation happening”.
Trafford graduated from the City academy but did not make a senior appearance for the senior team in his first stint with the club, spending time on loan at Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers before signing for Burnley in 2023.
Trafford made just four Premier League appearances for City last seasonOli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images
After making 73 appearances for Burnley and setting a Championship record with 30 clean sheets in the 2024-25 campaign, Trafford moved to City.
Trafford made his England debut in March, his first of two senior international caps, and was a part of Thomas Tuchel’s squad at the World Cup this summer. He did not play during the tournament, with Jordan Pickford the No 1 and Dean Henderson favoured for the third-place match against France.
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