Manchester Metropolis have re-signed James Trafford from Premier League newcomers Burnley for £27million, regardless of reviews claiming the price would initially be increased than that.
It was believed that Trafford would turn into the costliest English goalkeeper, however Jordan Pickford’s £30m transfer from Sunderland to Everton in 2017 holds the present document for that place.
Trafford follows Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Marcus Bettinelli and Sverre Nypan as Metropolis’s summer season switch window signings.
James Trafford retains Wilson Isidor ready to take his penalty… and it pays off!
The scores keep stage due to Trafford’s spot-kick save 🧤 pic.twitter.com/FdUxGjSFDj
— Sky Sports activities Soccer (@SkyFootball) January 17, 2025
Why have Man Metropolis re-signed James Trafford?
Trafford left the Etihad Stadium for Turf Moor in 2023 however Metropolis insisted on a re-signing choice due to his long-term potential.
With uncertainty nonetheless surrounding the way forward for Ederson, Trafford might turn into Metropolis’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Galatasaray have reportedly held talks with Brazil worldwide Ederson, though Metropolis are but to point whether or not they want to promote the 31-year-old, who has lower than 12 months left on his contract.
Ederson has made 372 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s aspect and is essentially the most embellished goalkeeper within the membership’s historical past.
Former Metropolis goalkeeper Nicky Weaver instructed BBC Radio Manchester earlier this month that he expects Ederson to depart.
“He’s set his requirements so excessive, so final season and the Membership World Cup have been most likely not at the usual he’d count on from himself,” mentioned Weaver.
“However I don’t suppose this can be a response and wanting to depart due to that. He’s into the final 12 months of his deal and Metropolis don’t let gamers run their contracts down like this for gamers they actually, actually wish to maintain.
“You’d think about during the last 12 months or so there was talks with the hierarchy at Metropolis over extending his keep however for no matter motive that has not come to fruition.
“The very fact Metropolis have let the scenario creep into the final 12 months of his contract offers the participant much more energy in deciding what he needs to do.
“The perfect scenario for me is he stays at Metropolis nevertheless it’s wanting more and more probably that he’ll go.”
James Trafford stats
Trafford joined Metropolis as a 12-year-old in August 2015 and had a short mortgage spell at Accrington Stanley in 2021/22 earlier than becoming a member of Bolton Wanderers in January of that season, preserving clear sheets in every of his first 4 video games.
He returned to Bolton the next season and saved 26 clear sheets as Wanderers reached the League One play-offs, incomes a spot within the third-tier crew of the 12 months.
After becoming a member of promoted Burnley for a price of as much as £19m, Trafford had a torrid first season because the membership have been relegated from the Premier League, shedding his beginning place for the ultimate 10 video games of the marketing campaign.
With Trafford reinstalled in purpose and finishing each minute of all however one among their 46 league video games, Burnley returned to the highest flight mechanically final season with the very best defensive document of any crew throughout the Premier League and EFL. Trafford gained the Championship Golden Glove.
James Trafford England document
An everyday for England at youth ranges, Trafford made his identify on the Euro Below-21 finals in 2023, turning into the primary goalkeeper within the historical past of the competitors to not concede all through six video games on the match.
Lee Carsley’s aspect preserved their 1-0 lead over Spain within the last courtesy of a Trafford penalty save throughout second-half added time.
He’s but to make his senior debut however was unlucky to not be a part of the squad for Euro 2024, having made England’s provisional squad.
Carsley referred to as Trafford up throughout his temporary spell as interim senior supervisor, naming him on the bench in opposition to Greece and Eire within the Nations League in November 2024.
New everlasting supervisor Thomas Tuchel named Trafford in his matchday squad for the 3-1 pleasant defeat to Senegal on the Metropolis Floor in June 2025.
Man Metropolis transfers 2025/26
Netherlands midfielder Reijnders joined Metropolis for £46m from Milan, whereas France’s Cherki price an preliminary price of greater than £30m from Lyon.
Left-sided wideman Ait-Nouri arrived from Wolves for £31m switch, and goalkeeper Bettinelli offers back-up for a nominal price from Chelsea till 2026.
Norway under-21 midfielder Sverre Nypan signed from Norwegian aspect Rosenborg for £12.5 million on a five-year contract.
When does Man Metropolis’s 2025/26 Premier League season begin?
The primary spherical of Premier League matches in 2025/26 will likely be on the weekend of August 16 2025, with Metropolis visiting Wolves that day at 17:30 BST (12:30 ET / 09:30 PT).
The sport is being proven stay within the UK on Sky Sports activities Premier League, Extremely and Principal Occasion.
The final spherical of matches this season will all begin on the identical time on Could 24 2026. No rounds will happen inside 60 hours of one another and there will likely be no fixture on December 24.