Manchester City left James Trafford off the roster for their preseason trip to Asia this week, and the reason is becoming pretty clear. Leeds United is closing in on a deal that would make the 23-year-old goalkeeper the most expensive signing in club history.
The fee is expected to land around £40 million plus add-ons, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post. That would beat the £35.5 million Leeds paid for Georginio Rutter back in January 2023. Personal terms aren’t expected to be a problem, and City basically confirmed the move was near by leaving Trafford home when the squad flew out Tuesday for games in Hong Kong and Seoul.
No Room on the Plane
Manager Enzo Maresca named a 28-man group for the tour. Trafford wasn’t in it. He spent last season as City’s cup goalkeeper but finds himself behind Gianluigi Donnarumma and Marcus Bettinelli on the depth chart, plus two academy keepers Max Chabot and Jack Wint who did make the trip.
Trafford is also still on a mandated three-week break after the World Cup, having been part of England’s squad. But the omission from the Asia trip feels like more than just rest timing.
What’s Waiting at Elland Road
Leeds only has Lucas Perri and Alex Cairns as senior goalkeepers right now. That’s because Karl Darlow left for Manchester United this summer and Illan Meslier joined Arsenal. If Trafford comes in, he’d likely start immediately. The expectation is that Perri would then depart — Torino has been linked heavily — once the new No. 1 is locked in.
Trafford reportedly wants to join Daniel Farke’s side. The England international has his sights set on eventually taking the starting job from Jordan Pickford for the national team, and he knows that means he needs regular club minutes first. Not getting those at City this season wasn’t going to change anything for him.
The deal isn’t finalized yet, but all the signals point one direction. City didn’t fly him to Asia. Leeds is working on the paperwork. And for a 23-year-old keeper who wants to play every week, Elland Road looks like the place that will actually give him the ball.
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