Manchester City have re-signed James Trafford from Premier League newcomers Burnley for £27million, regardless of experiences claiming the charge would initially be larger than that.
It was believed that Trafford would develop into the costliest English goalkeeper, however Jordan Pickford’s £30m transfer from Sunderland to Everton in 2017 holds the present document for that place.
Trafford follows Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Marcus Bettinelli and Sverre Nypan as City’s summer time switch window signings.
James Trafford retains Wilson Isidor ready to take his penalty… and it pays off!
The scores keep stage due to Trafford’s spot-kick save 🧤 pic.twitter.com/FdUxGjSFDj
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 17, 2025
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Why have Man City re-signed James Trafford?
Trafford left the Etihad Stadium for Turf Moor in 2023 however City insisted on a re-signing choice due to his long-term potential.
With uncertainty nonetheless surrounding the way forward for Ederson, Trafford might develop into City’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Galatasaray have reportedly held talks with Brazil worldwide Ederson, though City are but to point whether or not they want to promote the 31-year-old, who has lower than 12 months left on his contract.
Ederson has made 372 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s aspect and is probably the most adorned goalkeeper within the membership’s historical past.
Former City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver advised BBC Radio Manchester earlier this month that he expects Ederson to depart.
“He’s set his requirements so excessive, so final season and the Club World Cup had been in all probability not at the usual he’d anticipate from himself,” mentioned Weaver.
“But I don’t assume this can be a response and wanting to depart due to that. He’s into the final 12 months of his deal and City don’t let gamers run their contracts down like this for gamers they actually, actually wish to maintain.
“You would think about over the past 12 months or so there was talks with the hierarchy at City over extending his keep however for no matter cause that has not come to fruition.
“The reality City have let the state of affairs creep into the final 12 months of his contract offers the participant much more energy in deciding what he desires to do.
“The very best state of affairs for me is he stays at City however it’s wanting more and more possible that he’ll go.”
James Trafford stats
Trafford joined City as a 12-year-old in August 2015 and had a short mortgage spell at Accrington Stanley in 2021/22 earlier than becoming a member of Bolton Wanderers in January of that season, preserving clear sheets in every of his first 4 video games.
He returned to Bolton the next season and stored 26 clear sheets as Wanderers reached the League One play-offs, incomes a spot within the third-tier staff of the 12 months.
After becoming a member of promoted Burnley for a charge of as much as £19m, Trafford had a torrid first season because the membership had been relegated from the Premier League, dropping his beginning place for the ultimate 10 video games of the marketing campaign.
With Trafford reinstalled in objective and finishing each minute of all however one in every of their 46 league video games, Burnley returned to the highest flight robotically final season with one of the best defensive document of any staff throughout the Premier League and EFL. Trafford gained the Championship Golden Glove.
James Trafford England document
A daily for England at youth ranges, Trafford made his title on the Euro Under-21 finals in 2023, turning into the primary goalkeeper within the historical past of the competitors to not concede all through six video games on the match.
Lee Carsley’s aspect preserved their 1-0 lead over Spain within the last courtesy of a Trafford penalty save throughout second-half added time.
He is but to make his senior debut however was unlucky to not be a part of the squad for Euro 2024, having made England’s provisional squad.
Carsley known as Trafford up throughout his transient spell as interim senior supervisor, naming him on the bench towards Greece and Ireland within the Nations League in November 2024.
New everlasting supervisor Thomas Tuchel named Trafford in his matchday squad for the 3-1 pleasant defeat to Senegal on the City Ground in June 2025.
Man City transfers 2025/26
Netherlands midfielder Reijnders joined City for £46m from Milan, whereas France’s Cherki value an preliminary charge of greater than £30m from Lyon.
Left-sided wideman Ait-Nouri arrived from Wolves for £31m switch, and goalkeeper Bettinelli gives back-up for a nominal charge from Chelsea till 2026.
Norway under-21 midfielder Sverre Nypan signed from Norwegian aspect Rosenborg for £12.5 million on a five-year contract.
When does Man City’s 2025/26 Premier League season begin?
The first round of Premier League matches in 2025/26 will probably 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 recreation is being proven dwell within the UK on Sky Sports Premier League, Ultra and Main Event.
The final spherical of matches this season will all begin on the identical time on May 24 2026. No rounds will happen inside 60 hours of one another and there will probably be no fixture on December 24.
