Pep and Manchester City want their old Trafford back
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 25.07.25. | 17:50
James Trafford left the Etihad two years ago without making a single appearance for the Cityzens. He impressed at Burnley, and his former side wants him back
Manchester City are eager to re-sign England U21 goalkeeper James Trafford for £27m, only two years after he left the Etihad to join Burnley.
Trafford, 22, is a Manchester City graduate, but he never made a single first-team appearance before leaving the club in July 2023 to sign for the Clarets in a deal worth up to £19m.
He signed for City's academy in 2015, but was provided with nothing more than loans at Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers.
Schooled by the CFA, pushed by Scotty Carson, completed the loan rounds in the North-West, Burnley, Bolton & Accrington Stanley. World cup year & James Trafford is ready to challenge Ederson. Fair play pic.twitter.com/sU1i57GE3D
— Pundit Jay (@pundit_jay) July 25, 2025
Trafford impressed in those two seasons as Scott Parker's team managed to get back to the Premier League. Trafford kept 29 clean sheets across 45 EFL Championship games and was named to the division's Team of the Year.
City had a buy-back clause for Trafford and matching rights, allowing them to match any offer from another club, which they did when Newcastle asked for the custodian. Also - very important - Trafford himself has opted for a return to Pep Guardiola's side. He is expected to sign a five-year contract with the option for another year at Etihad Stadium.
He is expected to challenge Ederson as a first-choice keeper, who has been regular between the sticks for eight years.
Ederson is in the final year of his contract and has been linked with a move to Galatasaray.
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