James Trafford, the highly-rated English shot-stopper, has hinted that his second stint at Manchester City may reach a premature conclusion this summer. The 23-year-old found himself unexpectedly relegated to the bench following the high-profile arrival of Italian international Gianluigi Donnarumma, a move Trafford admits he did not see coming.
A Summer of Goalkeeping Upheaval
Trafford’s return to the Etihad was one of the major storylines of the previous summer transfer window. On 31 July, City triggered a buy-back clause to bring the academy graduate back from Burnley in a deal worth £31 million. At the time, with Ederson having departed, Trafford appeared to be the heir apparent for the No. 1 jersey, starting the club’s first three Premier League fixtures in August.
However, the landscape shifted dramatically on 2 September when Pep Guardiola secured the services of Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of £26 million. The Italian was immediately installed as the first choice, leaving Trafford to settle for cup competitions and sporadic European appearances.
Trafford Reflects on the Competition
Speaking after City’s 2-0 FA Cup victory over Salford, Trafford remained professional yet candid about his situation. “I didn’t expect the situation [with Donnarumma] to happen, but it did, so you just have to get on with it,” he remarked. “It’s football; you’ve got to keep grafting every day. This is just another experience to add to my career, and it has been a good learning curve.”
| Competition | Appearances | Status |
| Premier League | 3 | Started opening games only |
| FA Cup | 4 | Primary cup goalkeeper |
| Carabao Cup | 2 | Primary cup goalkeeper |
| Champions League | 2 | Group stage rotation |
| Total | 11 | — |
International Ambitions and Summer Exit
Despite his limited minutes, Trafford’s talent remains recognised at the highest level. He was called into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad in November following an injury to Nick Pope. However, his lack of consistent top-flight football has cast a shadow over his prospects for the 2026 World Cup in June.
Trafford confirmed he has had “no conversation” with Tuchel regarding his seat on the plane to North America. With four years remaining on a five-year contract, Trafford is at a crossroads. When questioned about his future at the Etihad beyond the current campaign, he was non-committal: “Who knows? It’s football. I’ll take it a day at a time, but whatever happens, happens.”
Given his age and pedigree, several Premier League and European clubs are reportedly monitoring the situation, as the young keeper seeks the regular first-team football necessary to cement his place in the national side.