James Trafford didn’t board Manchester City’s plane to Asia this week. That’s the kind of omission that tells you everything you need to know about where a transfer is headed.
City left for preseason matches in Hong Kong and Seoul on Tuesday, and the 23-year-old goalkeeper wasn’t in the 28-man squad new boss Enzo Maresca brought along. According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds United is closing in on a deal worth around £40 million plus add-ons for Trafford. That would top the £35.5 million Leeds paid for Georginio Rutter back in January 2023.
Trafford served as City’s cup goalkeeper last season and was part of England’s World Cup squad, which means he was still on a mandated three-week break when the tour departed. But that alone doesn’t explain his absence. Maresca brought four other keepers: starter Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marcus Bettinelli, and academy guys Max Chabot and Jack Wint. If City planned on keeping Trafford, he’d probably be on that plane.
Leeds has an opening. Karl Darlow and Illan Meslier both ran down their contracts at Elland Road this summer and left for Manchester United and Arsenal respectively. The club currently has Lucas Perri and Alex Cairns in the senior goalkeeper group, but Perri is reportedly expected to move on once Trafford arrives. Torino has been linked heavily there.
Personal terms shouldn’t be a problem. Trafford wants to go to Leeds. He wants regular playing time under Daniel Farke, and he’s thinking long-term about England’s No. 1 spot behind Jordan Pickford. Sitting on City’s bench for another season wouldn’t help that.
So this is basically just waiting on the paperwork now. Leeds gets a young keeper with Premier League and international experience. City gets a fee that could set a club record for a goalkeeper sale. And Trafford gets the minutes he needs to push for a starting role with the national team.
Somebody in Turin is probably already making space for Perri.
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