Manchester City has secured the signing of goalkeeper James Trafford for a reported fee of £27 million from newly-promoted Burnley. Trafford, who previously played for City before moving to Burnley two years ago, has committed to a five-year contract, with an option for an additional year.
Despite interest from Newcastle, Trafford chose to return to his roots at Manchester City, which was once his home club. He expressed his excitement about rejoining the club, stating, “This is the place I call home – it’s a truly special football club with fantastic people who make it such a unique place to work and play.” The young goalkeeper is keen to learn and develop further under the guidance of manager Pep Guardiola and alongside a world-class squad.
Trafford’s return at City is intended to create healthy competition for Ederson, the current first-choice goalkeeper. While Ederson has been linked with a potential move to Galatasaray, Manchester City remains confident in his commitment to the club, especially as he enters the final year of his contract.
The signing of Trafford marks City’s fifth acquisition this summer, alongside midfielders Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders, left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, and backup goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli. With summer spending now exceeding £140 million, Manchester City has shown their intent to strengthen their squad significantly, with total expenditures surpassing £300 million over the last two years.
This transfer speaks to the broader strategy of Manchester City to invest in promising talent while ensuring a competitive environment within the squad, promoting not just immediate success but also long-term development.