Leeds United are set to agree a deal to sign James Trafford from Manchester City.
The deal is price £40million plus bonuses and is within the means of being finalised. He is set to change into Leeds’ third signing of the summer time 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 had been in talks with the goalkeeper, who was leaning in direction of a transfer to Elland Road.
Leeds are looking for a goalkeeper after Karl Darlow, who ended final season as No 1, departed on a free switch to Manchester United. Lucas Perri stays on the membership, having been displaced by Darlow in the course of the 2025-26 season, with Alex Cairns additionally within the squad.
Newcastle United had been amongst Trafford’s suitors this summer time with The Athletic reporting on July 21 that he had been their main possibility, however they had been not contemplating a transfer.
The Athletic reported in June that the north-east membership rekindled their curiosity within the 23 yr outdated, having been in talks to sign him final summer time, earlier than he re-joined Manchester City from Burnley. They had additionally been excited about signing him in 2024.
Trafford made 17 appearances within the 2025-26 marketing campaign, together with enjoying each match within the Carabao Cup and FA Cup as City lifted each trophies.
He returned to City final yr underneath the impression he could be first selection, however the addition of Gianluigi Donnarumma on deadline day noticed Trafford act because the Italian’s understudy. Trafford mentioned 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 however didn’t make a senior look for the senior group in his first stint with the membership, spending time on mortgage at Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers earlier than signing for Burnley in 2023.
Trafford made simply 4 Premier League appearances for City final season (Oli SCARFF / AFP by way of Getty Images)
After making 73 appearances for Burnley and setting a Championship report with 30 clear sheets within the 2024-25 marketing campaign, Trafford moved to City.
Trafford made his England debut in March, his first of two senior worldwide caps, and was part of Thomas Tuchel’s squad on the World Cup this summer time. He didn’t play in the course of the match, with Jordan Pickford the No 1 and Dean Henderson favoured for the third-place match in opposition to France.
Trafford transfer could be ‘a coup’
Analysis by Leeds correspondent Beren Cross
This could be a big coup for Leeds if they will pull it off. Trafford is among the rising stars of European goalkeeping and would stand a very good probability of beginning in purpose for half of the groups within the Premier League.
It is not any secret Trafford desires to play much more usually than he did with City final season and he could be the undisputed No 1 at Elland Road. The West Yorkshire outfit will even lean on the platform they gave Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Anton Stach in returning to their nationwide groups.
United have first-hand expertise of how spectacular the 23-year-old may be between the sticks. Leeds went toe-to-toe with Trafford’s Burnley group for the Championship crown in 2024-25, when the goalkeeper conceded simply 16 objectives in 45 league begins.
Leeds will hope Trafford may be their long-term answer between the sticks. Illan Meslier has lastly moved on after a protracted demise of his Elland Road profession. Lucas Perri endured a tough first season in England. Meanwhile, Karl Darlow has left, however even when he had stayed, it’s unlikely he would have been No 1 within the upcoming marketing campaign.
Harry Wilson, an skilled top-flight operator off the again of a career-best season, has already been recruited on a free. One of the membership’s largest charges in historical past has been spent on Tarik Murahemovic, however Trafford may find yourself being their single most necessary piece of enterprise of the summer time.
