Manchester City could seek to re-sign goalkeeper James Trafford if Ederson moves away from the Etihad this summer.
James Trafford is in the England squad and could soon be on his way back to Manchester City
When Manchester City and James Trafford parted ways two years ago, there was always the chance of a reunion further down the line. Trafford felt he was ready to be No. 1 at the Etihad but knew his path was blocked, while City were in no doubt about just how talented he was.
The £15million deal that took him to Burnley has proved to be his breakthrough moment. Trafford has played regularly at Turf Moor and developed from a goalkeeper of promise to one now in the England squad.
He has also had his difficult moments, which have helped. He was dropped during Burnley’s disappointing 2023/24 Premier League campaign and went on the kind of learning curve every young goalkeeper requires. He bounced back to excel in the Championship last season and is now destined to move on from the Clarets.
For a while, it has looked like he was heading to Newcastle. They tried to sign him last summer and were back in for him in June, with Trafford, 22, identified as the man to challenge Nick Pope.
But City were always lurking in the background. When they did that deal in 2023, they included a buy-back clause, and although Trafford had no route to the first team then, the make-up of City’s goalkeeping department meant doors would open soon enough.
Ederson flirted with a move last summer, turns 32 next month and could yet depart during this window, while Stefan Ortega will be 33 in November and looks a solid City No. 2 rather than a potential No. 1. A younger goalkeeper was always going to be required at some point.
Two years ago, Trafford was coming off the back of an exceptional 18 months on loan with Bolton, and he knew he had to go and play regular football to continue his development. But listen to him speak on Ben Foster’s Fozcast podcast at the start of June, and it’s clear a return to the Etihad was always a possible outcome.
“I wanted to go and when the opportunity came to play in the Premier League and go to Burnley, I wanted to do that,” Trafford said.
“I had known about Burnley for a long time and it was more or less done before the Euros [Under-21s]. I remember speaking to the goalie coach and he said we’ve accepted a bid. Do you want to go? And I was like ‘yeah, I want to play in the Premier League’.
“I wanted to play for Man City and who doesn’t want to be Man City’s No. 1? I believed I could be, but I wasn’t going to say I want to be X, Y or Z because I need to prove myself and get better and I think this is the best thing for me. He agreed and it was quite simple with the goalie coach, speaking like that.
“My heart was set on it. They weren’t daft with how they did the deal but they knew I wanted to go and it’s been really good for us.”
City are rarely daft when it comes to selling their academy graduates. Had Trafford moved to St James’ Park, they would have banked a profit from a sell-on clause. Instead, a buy-back clause could now be activated.
Interest from Galatasaray in Ederson means City’s goalkeeping plans might be brought forward and Trafford fits the bill. That buy-back clause is understood to be £40million, but it is understood the fee could be negotiated down.
Trafford understands what is required from a City goalkeeper. Coming through at Carlisle, he started life in midfield before going in goal during a trial game and excelling. He is comfortable with the ball at his feet and has a good relationship with City goalkeeping coach Xabier Mancisidor, who spoke to Trafford about his transfer in 2023.
Speaking on Foster’s podcast, Trafford made it clear where he saw his end destination. He wanted to sign for Newcastle last summer and was disappointed the move didn’t come off, but he wants to reach the top, and returning to City would be just that.
“I think that’s where I’ve always been aiming for, the top of the Prem. Everyone wants to go there, everyone wants to play there,” he said.
“To get there, you have to play games, improve and then get to the level where you do go back to wherever I end up whenever, I’m ready for it and I’m the best equipped for it and ready to perform.”
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