Manchester Metropolis have re-signed James Trafford from Premier League newcomers Burnley for £27million, regardless of experiences claiming the payment would initially be greater than that.
It was believed that Trafford would turn into the most costly 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 degree 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 may 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 facet and is probably the most adorned goalkeeper within the membership’s historical past.
Former Metropolis goalkeeper Nicky Weaver informed BBC Radio Manchester earlier this month that he expects Ederson to go away.
“He’s set his requirements so excessive, so final season and the Membership World Cup had been in all probability not at the usual he’d anticipate from himself,” stated Weaver.
“However I don’t suppose this can be a response and wanting to go away due to that. He’s into the final yr 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 over the past yr or so there was talks with the hierarchy at Metropolis over extending his keep however for no matter purpose that has not come to fruition.
“The actual fact Metropolis have let the scenario creep into the final yr of his contract offers the participant much more energy in deciding what he desires to do.
“The perfect scenario for me is he stays at Metropolis nevertheless it’s trying 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, retaining 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 group of the yr.
After becoming a member of promoted Burnley for a payment of as much as £19m, Trafford had a torrid first season because the membership had been relegated from the Premier League, dropping his beginning place for the ultimate 10 video games of the marketing campaign.
With Trafford reinstalled in objective and finishing each minute of all however considered one of their 46 league video games, Burnley returned to the highest flight routinely final season with one of the best defensive document of any group throughout the Premier League and EFL. Trafford gained the Championship Golden Glove.
James Trafford England document
A daily for England at youth ranges, Trafford made his identify on the Euro Beneath-21 finals in 2023, changing into the primary goalkeeper within the historical past of the competitors to not concede all through six video games on the event.
Lee Carsley’s facet 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 known as Trafford up throughout his temporary spell as interim senior supervisor, naming him on the bench towards 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 payment 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 payment from Chelsea till 2026.
Norway under-21 midfielder Sverre Nypan signed from Norwegian facet Rosenborg for £12.5 million on a five-year contract.
When does Man Metropolis’s 2025/26 Premier League season begin?
The first round 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 dwell within the UK on Sky Sports activities Premier League, Extremely and Foremost Occasion.
The final spherical of matches this season will all begin on the similar 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.
