Manchester City have officially completed the long-anticipated re-signing of goalkeeper James Trafford from Burnley, bringing the 22-year-old back to the Etihad Stadium on a five-year contract with the option of a further year. The move, widely reported to be worth an initial £27 million rising to £31 million in add-ons, sets a new benchmark for fees paid for a British goalkeeper.
Trafford’s journey has come full circle. Born in Cockermouth, Cumbria, he joined Manchester City’s academy at the age of 12 and rose steadily through the youth ranks. Despite never making a senior appearance for City, loans at Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers offered him vital first-team experience.
In July 2023, Burnley acquired him for up to £19 million, triggering a sell-on clause for Carlisle United and inserting a buy-back clause which City have now activated.
Although Trafford’s first season at Turf Moor ended with relegation, he re-established himself the following year as one of the most impressive young keepers in English football. In the 2024–25 Championship campaign, he kept 29 clean sheets in 45 games, conceding just 16 goals—equalling the record for shutouts in a single English league season and playing a pivotal role in Burnley’s promotion.
At one point, he offered a streak of 12 consecutive league clean sheets—breaking the Championship record—while preventing 11.1 goals above expected on target according to Opta’s xGoT metric.
On accepting Manchester City’s offer, Trafford expressed his deep affection for his boyhood club in an emotional statement:
“Rejoining City is such a special and proud moment both for me and my family. I always dreamed that one day I would be able to come back to Manchester City. This is the place I call home – it’s a truly special football club with fantastic people who make it such a unique place to work and play.”
“I am also very excited and honoured to have been given the opportunity to work under Pep and with such a world-class group of players. I am still very young and hungry to keep learning and improving – and I know there is no better environment than Manchester City to help make me become the best goalkeeper I can be. I also cannot wait to play in front of the amazing City fans for the first time and will do everything I can to help this great club look to achieve even more success.”
City’s director of football, Hugo Viana, welcomed the goalkeeper’s return, highlighting his potential:
“James is already one of the most accomplished young goalkeepers in the English game, and we are delighted to welcome him back to Manchester City. He has all the attributes a top-class goalkeeper requires… We fully believe he will be really successful and a top goalkeeper for Manchester City and the national team.”
Trafford has been assigned the No 1 shirt, signaling Guardiola’s intention to integrate him as a leading figure in the squad. His arrival represents City’s sixth acquisition of the summer, following fellow signings Rayan Aït-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, Marcus Bettinelli, Rayan Cherki, and Sverre Nypan.
The goalkeeper department now features Ederson, Trafford, Bettinelli and the departing Stefan Ortega. Ortega, who started 13 Premier League games last season under Guardiola, is expected to leave this summer.
Guardiola’s decision to bring in Trafford—who enters his prime as a commanding shot-stopper—may foreshadow a shift in hierarchy. Ederson, still under contract until 2026, remains City’s experienced first choice, though recent interest from Galatasaray and Saudi Arabian clubs has added an element of uncertainty.
This week, Newcastle United reportedly had agreed a fee with Burnley for Trafford, only for City to trigger their matching clause—dealing a significant blow to Newcastle’s goalkeeping plans. The Magpies have since turned their attention to Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale.
Trafford’s rise from academy prospect to record-breaking signing reflects a mix of patient development and exceptional on-field achievements.
His career to date includes loan stints that honed his reflexes and distribution, accolades such as England U-21 clean-sheet heroics, and recognition as Championship Player of the Month in January 2025 following key penalty saves under manager Scott Parker.