The Athletic have reported today that Leeds have reached ‘a full agreement’ with Manchester City over the signing of James Trafford, and that he has completed his medical in Leeds.

The outlet reported last week that the fee is a guaranteed £40million, plus possible add-ons. Newcastle had also been chasing Trafford’s signature at one stage, but they have now signed Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek instead.

We wonder why it was taking so long, but Trafford was entitled to a three week break after being included in the England squad at the World Cup, even though he didn’t get a chance to play in any of the games. It was also rumoured that City wouldn’t sanction Trafford’s departure until they had secured a replacement number 2 keeper, but now that doesn’t seem to be the case.

A brief glance at City’s official website tells me that their backup to Gianluigi Donnarumma is now ex-Fulham keeper Marcus Bettinelli, who has already been there for 12 months. But one move that was waiting is Lucas Perri’s loan move to Torino, which can now get moving once Leeds have completed the signing of Trafford.

But despite Trafford ‘s capture Leeds will still need to look for another backup keeper, as the departures pf Perri, Darlow and Mesiler will mean that Alex Cairns is currently the only other experienced keeper on our books.

Although Trafford is only 23, he has already had quite an eventful career so far. He began his career at City, but didn’t manage to get a first team game during his first spell at the club. After a couple of spells out on loan he moved on to Burnley in the summer of 2023. And at Turf Moor he conceded just 16 goals as they were promoted alongside us in 2024-25, keeping a Championship record 30 clean sheets in the process.

Such form earned him a move back to the Etihad, where he thought he was going to be the number one keeper. But then Gianluigi Donnarumma became available at the end of the transfer window, having fallen out with the powers that be at his then club Paris Saint-Germain. City seized the opportunity to sign the Italian for a relatively low fee (as he had only a year left on his contract) so Trafford never played a Premier League game after the first four matches.

Trafford did end up with winners medals in both domestic cup competitions, having been given the game time in all their Carabou and FA Cup games, including both finals, but he was always likely to want to move on in search of more regular first team football. He has ambitions of becoming England’s first choice once James Pickford calls it a day, and he won’t get there without regular starts in the Premier League.

I have seen some grumbles about his name on social media, but that won’t become an issue until he reaches the veteran stage of his career. For now we can call him Young Trafford. Otherwise he looks like an excellent signing, even for a club record fee, and hopefully our regular goalkeeping issues of the last few years are now behind us.

Reuters