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James Trafford
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James Harrington Trafford (born 10 October 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Manchester City.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Trafford was born in Cockermouth, Cumbria,[4] and grew up in the nearby village of Greysouthen in a farming family.[5] He was a Chelsea fan.[5] He attended Cockermouth School and St Bede's College.[5] He learned to drive on a tractor[6] and in his early career he would return to help out on the family farm in the off-season.[7]
Club career
[edit]Manchester City
[edit]Trafford began his career with Cockermouth and Carlisle United, signing with Manchester City in August 2015 at the age of 12.[5] At Carlisle he began as a midfielder but volunteered to become a goalkeeper at age nine.[7] He was part of the Manchester City Under-18s team that won the 2019–20 Professional U18 Development League and the Under-23s team that won the 2020–21 Professional U23 Development League.[8]
He moved on loan to Accrington Stanley in July 2021.[9] This loan was later described as "challenging" due to injuries and losing his first-team place.[7]
Bolton Wanderers
[edit]Trafford signed on loan for Bolton Wanderers on 13 January 2022, until the end of the 2021–22 season.[10] He kept four clean sheets in his first four games, the first time a goalkeeper had done so in Bolton's entire history.[11][12][6]
On 15 June 2022, Trafford rejoined Bolton on loan for a further season.[13][14] In July 2022, he signed a new five-year contract with Manchester City.[15] By October he was noted for his clean sheets,[16] and Trafford broke Bolton's record for consecutive home clean sheets on 4 February, with the 1–0 win over Cheltenham Town being his eighth in a row.[17][18][19] He was able to extend the record to nine,[20][6] though was unable to have it reach double figures as on 25 February he conceded against Port Vale in a 2–1 win, the first time since 2 December.[21] On 2 April, he started in the 2023 EFL Trophy final and kept a clean sheet in 4–0 win against Plymouth Argyle.[22] Trafford's clean sheet in a 1–0 win against Shrewbury Town on 22 April was his 25th of the season, which broke the record for the most clean sheets by a Bolton goalkeeper in one season.[23][24] He finished the season with a total of 26 clean sheets.[6] He helped Bolton qualify for the play-offs, though they were defeated by Barnsley in the semi-finals.[25] He was voted as Bolton's Young Player of the Year for the 2022–23 season, together with Conor Bradley.[26][27] His performances during the season saw him named in the PFA Team of the Year for League One.[28] He said his time at Bolton turned him from a "long, skinny boy" into a "long, skinny man".[29]
Burnley
[edit]On 3 July 2023, it was announced that a £15 million transfer fee had been agreed between Manchester City and Burnley for Trafford.[30] With add-ons, the deal could reach a total of £19 million — which if met would break Burnley's transfer record.[6] On 20 July 2023, Trafford's move to Burnley was officially completed.[31][32] Due to their sell-on clause, Carlisle United got 15% of the fee for around £2.25m.[33] He became the third most expensive British goalkeeper in history.[34]
He made his Burnley and Premier League debut on 11 August 2023, in a 3–0 home defeat to his former club Manchester City.[35] He earned high praise after Man of the Match performance in a 1–1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on 9 December in which he made 10 saves.[36][37]
In January 2025, he saved two penalties in a league match against Sunderland,[38][39] being praised by manager Scott Parker as a "special" player.[40] Having not conceded a goal across any of their six matches in the month, he was named EFL Championship Player of the Month.[41] By February 2025, Trafford had gone 1,000 minutes without conceding a goal.[42] In March 2025, this streak came to an end in Burnley's EFL Championship match against Cardiff City, with Yousef Salech scoring in the 42nd minute.[43] During this run, Trafford got 12 clean sheets in a row — breaking the record for the most consecutive clean sheets in Championship history (the prior record was 10).[44] After 33 games, Trafford/Burnley had conceded only 9 goals — the lowest in the history of English Football at that point of the season.[45] Trafford finished the season with 29 clean sheets,[46] which equalled the record for a goalkeeper in a single season in English football.[47] During the 2024–25 season, Burnley conceded only 16 goals in 46 games, the least in the history of the Football League, beating the previous record of 20,[48][45] although this was 1 more than Chelsea's 15 conceded in 38 games in the 2004–05 Premier League.[45]
Return to Manchester City
[edit]On 29 July 2025, Manchester City announced the return of Trafford on a five-year deal, after activating their buy-back clause and matching Newcastle United's £31 million bid.[8][49][50] Trafford's official fee was £31 million (being the record paid for a British goalkeeper), although City received £4 million back due to their sell-on clause, and so only paid £27 million.[49][50] On 16 August, he made his debut for City in their first Premier League game of the season, keeping a clean sheet in a 4–0 away win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.[51] In his home debut for City on 23 August, he made an error that led to Tottenham Hotspur's second goal in a 2–0 defeat. After the game, Guardiola said he still backed Trafford.[52] Trafford was presented with the August Save of the Month award for saving a close-range shot by Jan Paul van Hecke as City lost 2–1 to Brighton & Hove Albion on 31 August.[53][54]
After playing in the club's first few matches, he was dropped in favour of transfer deadline day signing Gianluigi Donnarumma.[55]
International career
[edit]Trafford played his first international match of his career for England U17 on 24 March 2018 against Croatia U17 in which he saved a penalty and kept a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw despite England being down to ten men.[56] He made a further six appearances for the U17 including one appearance at the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, then played twice for England U18, and once for England U19.[57]
On 6 September 2021, Trafford made his debut for the England U20s during a 6–1 victory over Romania U20s at St. George's Park.[58]
On 25 May 2022, Trafford received his first call up to the England U21 squad ahead of the final round of 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches.[59] Trafford made his debut in the 5–0 win away to Kosovo.[60]
On 14 June 2023, Trafford was included in the England squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[61] He did not concede a goal during the tournament in six matches,[6] the first time a goalkeeper had done this in the tournament's history,[62] and saved a stoppage-time penalty and its rebound in the final against Spain as England won the game 1–0.[63] His mentality was praised by England under-21 manager Lee Carsley.[64] It was later reported that Trafford had told friends that he would save a penalty that game.[34]
Following an injury to Sam Johnstone in March 2024, Trafford received his first call up to the senior squad for a friendly against Belgium.[65][66] He was selected to England's provisional 33-member squad for Euro 2024.[67] On 6 June 2024, he was dropped from the final 26-man squad.[68] In October 2025, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said that Trafford would become an England goalkeeper in due course.[69]
Style of play
[edit]He spent his early career as an outfield player.[5] At Carlisle he began as a midfielder but volunteered to become a goalkeeper at age 9.[7] He has been praised for his reflexes and distribution.[70] He is noted for his ability to get clean sheets, breaking multiple records with Bolton Wanderers,[16][6][17][23] Burnley,[44][45] and winning the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship without conceding a goal.[6][63][62]
Personal life
[edit]In 2025, two years after leaving Bolton Wanderers, Trafford revealed he loved his time at the club so much that it had caused him to become a Bolton fan.[71]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 29 October 2025
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester City U23 | 2020–21[72] | — | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Manchester City | 2021–22[73] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022–23[74] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Accrington Stanley (loan) | 2021–22[73] | League One | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Bolton Wanderers (loan) | 2021–22[73] | League One | 22 | 0 | — | — | — | 22 | 0 | |||
| Bolton Wanderers (loan) | 2022–23[74] | League One | 45 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6[b] | 0 | 52 | 0 |
| Burnley | 2023–24[75] | Premier League | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 28 | 0 | |
| 2024–25[76] | Championship | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 45 | 0 | ||
| Total | 73 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 0 | ||
| Manchester City | 2025–26[77] | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Career total | 154 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 165 | 0 | ||
- ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy
- ^ Four appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances in League One play-offs
Honours
[edit]Manchester City Under-18s
Manchester City Under-23s
Bolton Wanderers
England U21
Individual
- Bolton Wanderers Young Player of the Year: 2022–23 (shared)[26]
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2023[79]
- PFA Team of the Year: 2022–23 League One,[28] 2024–25 Championship[80]
- EFL Championship Player of the Month: January 2025[41]
- EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2024–25[81]
- EFL Championship Golden Glove: 2024–25[82]
- PFA Championship Player of the Year: 2024–25[80]
References
[edit]- ^ "EFL – Squad List 2021/22" (PDF). English English Football League. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ a b "James Trafford". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ "James Trafford: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ^ "A closer look at James Trafford's background". Burnley F.C. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "James, 12, signs for mega-rich Man City". Times and Star. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "From farm to final – England's future number one?". BBC Sport. 7 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d Fisher, Ben (4 July 2023). "James Trafford is the rising star with designs on being England's No 1". The Guardian.
- ^ a b c d "Trafford returns to Manchester City!". Manchester City F.C. 29 July 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
- ^ "Accrington sign Mumbongo and Trafford". BBC Sport.
- ^ "James Trafford: Bolton Wanderers sign Manchester City goalkeeper". BBC Sport.
- ^ "'I'm just a farm boy at heart' – Wanderers keeper Trafford on his rural roots". The Bolton News. 26 January 2022.
- ^ "'REPORT: Wanderers 2 Cambridge Utd 0". Bolton Wanderers Official Website.
- ^ "Trafford Back For More". Bolton Wanderers Official Website.
- ^ "Trafford rejoins Bolton on loan from Man City". BBC Sport.
- ^ McDougall, John (16 July 2022). "Man City goalkeeper on League One return over Championship loan". Manchester Evening News.
- ^ a b McDougall, John (12 October 2022). "Bolton goalkeeper Trafford's impressive clean sheet haul & League One standings". Manchester Evening News.
- ^ a b "Trafford: Record Is A Group Effort". www.bwfc.co.uk.
- ^ "Cumbrian goalkeeper helps club break record". News and Star. 6 February 2023.
- ^ Brown, Dan (4 February 2023). "Man City goalkeeping pecking order might be set to change". Manchester Evening News.
- ^ "Bolton Wanderers 5–0 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Bolton Wanderers 2–1 Port Vale". BBC Sport.
- ^ a b Pilnick, Brent (2 April 2023). "Bolton Wanderers 4–0 Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ a b Marc, Iles (23 April 2023). "Bolton Wanderers 1–0 Shrewsbury Town – Marc Iles's big match verdict". The Bolton News.
- ^ Marc, Iles (30 April 2023). "Liverpool teen Conor Bradley wins hat-trick of Bolton Wanderers awards". The Bolton News.
- ^ "Barnsley edge past Bolton to reach play-off final". BBC Sport. 18 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Bradley Is Season Star". Bolton Wanderers. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ Iles, Marc (30 April 2023). "'We're not finished yet!' Prize guy Conor wants more glory in the play-offs". The Bolton News. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Erling Haaland: Manchester City forward wins PFA men's Player of the Year award". BBC Sport. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ "James Trafford's thank-you message to Wanderers after play-off heroics". The Bolton News. 15 May 2023.
- ^ "Burnley agree £15m deal for Man City's Trafford". BBC Sport. 3 July 2023.
- ^ "CLARETS CAPTURE TRAFFORD". Burnley Football Club. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "Burnley sign Man City's Trafford in £19m deal". BBC Sport. 20 July 2023.
- ^ "Report makes claim about Carlisle United cash from keeper transfer". News and Star. 17 July 2023.
- ^ a b "James Trafford: Man City youth product and U21 penalty hero is a future England No 1 who can shine at Burnley". Sky Sports.
- ^ "Cumbrian keeper makes Premier League debut against Haaland and City". News and Star. 12 August 2023.
- ^ "Brighton 1–1 Burnley: James Trafford's late heroics earn relegation-threatened visitors crucial point". Sky Sports.
- ^ "Vincent Kompany's immediate reaction to Burnley's draw at Brighton & James Trafford's solo display". 9 December 2023.
- ^ Whittell, Ian (17 January 2025). "James Trafford saves two penalties to rescue Burnley against Sunderland". www.thetimes.com.
- ^ "Cumbrian keeper stars with TWO penalty saves in one game". News and Star. 18 January 2025.
- ^ Unwin, Will (17 January 2025). "Burnley's Parker hails 'special' Trafford after penalty saves deny Sunderland". The Guardian.
- ^ a b "Sky Bet Championship Manager & Player of the Month January winners". www.efl.com. 7 February 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ^ "Burnley: The stats behind the Clarets' 1,000 minutes without conceding". BBC Sport. 15 February 2025.
- ^ "JJ Watt can stay in retirement after James Trafford's clean sheet streak ends". Yahoo Sports. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
- ^ a b Brodie, Alex; Millar, Colin (4 March 2025). "Burnley concede after record 12 league clean sheets in a row to keep JJ Watt in NFL retirement". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ a b c d "James Trafford interview: Burnley goalkeeper on clean-sheet record, JJ Watt wager and Sunderland penalty saves". Sky Sports.
- ^ "James Trafford's verdict on remarkable season and transfer 'noise'". Yahoo Sports. 29 April 2025.
- ^ "Queens Park Rangers v Burnley: Championship stats & head-to-head". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Championship: Leeds United and Burnley's historic title race". BBC Sport. 3 May 2025.
- ^ a b Stafford, Katie (29 July 2025). "Keeper Trafford returns 'home' to Man City for £27m". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
- ^ a b "James Trafford transfer news: Man City complete deal to re-sign goalkeeper from Burnley | Football News | Sky Sports". Sky Sports.
- ^ "Super City make blistering Premier League start at Wolves". Manchester City F.C. 16 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
- ^ "Man City's Guardiola backs keeper Trafford after Spurs error". Reuters. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ Rajan, Adwaidh (31 August 2025). "Brajan Gruda came off the bench to score an 89th-minute goal to give Brighton their first win of the Premier League season, while condemning Manchester City to back-to-back defeats". BBC Sport. BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ^ "Trafford wins Coca-Cola Save of the Month award". Premier League. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ^ Hafez, Shamoon (24 September 2025). "James Trafford: Will Man City goalkeeper be questioning return?". BBC Sport.
- ^ Association, The Football. "Drama in Denmark as ten-men England held to a draw by Croatia in Euro qualifying". www.thefa.com.
- ^ "James Trafford » Internationals". worldfootball.net. 29 July 2025.
- ^ "Six at SGP for MU20s". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ "Lee Carsley has made his pick for Young Lions' four games in June as they target MU21 EURO qualification". EnglandFootball.com. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- ^ "Match report: Kosovo 0–5 England MU21s". EnglandFootball.com. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ "England MU21s squad named for EURO Finals". EnglandFootball.com. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ a b Howell, Alex (8 July 2023). "England U21 1–0 Spain U21: England win Under-21 Euros for first time in 39 years". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ a b Athletic, The (8 July 2023). "England vs Spain live updates". The Athletic. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Trafford has 'top mentality' to succeed – Carsley". BBC Sport. 8 July 2023.
- ^ Walker, Andy (24 March 2024). "England squad update: Rico Lewis and James Trafford join seniors". England Football. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "England's Walker & Maguire ruled out of Belgium game". BBC Sport. 24 March 2024.
- ^ "England Euro 2024 squad: Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson left out of Gareth Southgate's provisional squad". BBC Sport. 21 May 2024.
- ^ "Eze & Wharton named in England squad for Euro 2024". BBC Sport. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Hafez, Shamoon (28 October 2025). "James Trafford: Man City keeper will be England number one 'sooner or later'". BBC Sport.
- ^ Froston, Nancy (15 April 2023). "Rapid reflexes and pin-point distribution can take Bolton's City loanee Trafford to the top". The Athletic.
- ^ "'I couldn't love Bolton any more!' - James Trafford looks back at loan days". The Bolton News. 7 June 2025.
- ^ "Games played by James Trafford in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
- ^ a b c "Games played by James Trafford in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Games played by James Trafford in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ^ "Games played by James Trafford in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ^ "Games played by James Trafford in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ^ "Games played by James Trafford in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ^ Howell, Alex (8 July 2023). "England beat Spain to win Euro U21 Championship". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "2023 Under-21 EURO Team of the Tournament". UEFA. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey win PFA Player of the Year awards for 2024/25". Sky Sports. 19 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
- ^ Ashton, Ben (27 April 2025). "Burnley's Parker and Blades' Hamer win EFL awards". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
EFLGoldenGlovewas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
External links
[edit]- Profile at the Manchester City F.C. website
- James Trafford – UEFA competition record (archive)
- James Trafford at Soccerway
James Trafford
View on GrokipediaBackground
Early life
James Trafford was born on 10 October 2002 in Greysouthen, Cumbria, England.[6] He grew up in the nearby village of Greysouthen near Cockermouth, where the landscape of farms and open fields defined his early environment.[7] This Cumbrian upbringing, immersed in the Lake District's natural surroundings, provided ample space for outdoor activities that sparked his initial interest in sports.[8] Trafford hails from a farming family, with his parents, Alison and James Trafford Sr., managing a farm near Cockermouth that remains operational.[8] He has an older sister named Charlotte, and the siblings often engaged in casual kickabouts on the family's grassy fields alongside friends, fostering Trafford's early passion for football amid his routine farm chores like lambing and mucking out.[8] These experiences on the farm instilled a strong work ethic and grounded perspective, which Trafford has credited for shaping his resilience and down-to-earth character in sports.[8] His first formal exposure to football came through local amateur clubs in Cumbria, where he played for Cockermouth FC before the age of eight, initially as an outfield player.[7] These grassroots setups in the Cockermouth area allowed him to develop basic skills in a community-oriented setting, transitioning to goalkeeper around age nine during time with Carlisle United's youth teams.[9]Personal life
Trafford has resided in the Manchester area since his return to Manchester City in July 2025.[10] He maintains a private personal life, with no publicly available information regarding relationships, partners, or family expansions as of 2025.[11] Trafford has spoken fondly of his Cumbrian upbringing on a family farm, crediting it with instilling discipline and a grounded perspective that he continues to value.[8] His interests include maintaining ties to his rural roots, such as reflecting on farm activities like sheep herding in interviews.[12] In 2021, he made a special appearance at a Workington AFC Foundation event supporting youth football initiatives for children across Cumbria, highlighting his commitment to community involvement in his home region.[13] No further philanthropic activities or endorsements unrelated to his profession have been publicly documented.Club career
Manchester City academy
Trafford joined Manchester City's academy in 2015 at the age of 12, having initially developed his football skills in Cumbria. He progressed through the club's youth system, featuring for age groups from under-13 to under-23 levels, where he honed his goalkeeping abilities in line with the academy's emphasis on possession-based play and distribution.[14][15] In July 2020, Trafford signed his first professional contract with Manchester City, a three-year deal that committed him to the club until 2023. During his academy tenure, he made notable contributions in youth competitions, including appearances in the 2019–20 UEFA Youth League for the under-19 side and playing a key role in the under-18s' run to victory in the FA Youth Cup that season, where City defeated Chelsea 3–2 in the final. Trafford's performances earned recognition within the academy, positioning him as a promising talent in the goalkeeping department.[16][17] Prior to his first loan departure in 2021, Trafford received early exposure to the senior squad, training with the first-team players during the 2020–21 season and integrating into professional environments at the City Football Academy. This period allowed him to adapt to higher training intensities and observe established goalkeepers like Ederson, further developing his tactical awareness and physical presence.[18]Loan to Bolton Wanderers
On 15 June 2022, Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford rejoined Bolton Wanderers on a season-long loan for the 2022–23 campaign, having previously impressed during a short-term loan spell with the club from January to May 2022 that ended with four clean sheets in 13 appearances.[19][20] The move allowed the 19-year-old to gain further senior experience in EFL League One, where he quickly established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper under manager Ian Evatt. Trafford made 52 appearances across all competitions during the loan, including 45 in League One, where he conceded 34 goals while keeping 22 clean sheets—a figure that contributed significantly to Bolton finishing third in the regular season table.[21] His shot-stopping ability was evident in high-pressure situations, with notable performances including a string of saves during key matches that helped maintain Bolton's defensive solidity. Trafford played a pivotal role in Bolton's 2022–23 EFL Trophy triumph, featuring in all four of their matches en route to the final at Wembley Stadium on 2 April 2023, where they defeated Plymouth Argyle 1–0; he kept clean sheets throughout the competition, including a crucial performance in the decisive victory.[22] Later that month, Bolton qualified for the League One play-offs, and Trafford started in the semi-final second leg against Barnsley (a 2–2 draw after extra time, secured on penalties) and the final (a 2–1 loss to Barnsley on 29 May 2023), where he made several key interventions despite the defeat.[23] His outstanding contributions saw Trafford nominated for the EFL League One Young Player of the Season award for 2022–23, recognizing his maturity and impact as one of the division's top emerging talents.[24]Burnley
In July 2023, Burnley signed Trafford on a permanent four-year contract from Manchester City for an initial fee of £15 million, potentially rising to £20 million with add-ons.[25] This transfer followed his successful loan at Bolton Wanderers, positioning him as the club's primary goalkeeper ahead of their return to the Premier League.[25] During the 2023–24 Premier League season, Trafford made 28 appearances, conceding 62 goals while keeping just two clean sheets, as Burnley struggled with defensive vulnerabilities that led to relegation. Under manager Vincent Kompany's possession-oriented system, he debuted in a 3–0 home loss to Manchester City on 11 August 2023, facing 20 shots and earning praise for several key saves despite the result.[25] He also produced standout performances in matches like the 1–0 victory over Fulham in October 2023, where his shot-stopping helped secure a rare clean sheet amid the team's overall challenges. However, inconsistent form saw him lose his starting place to Arijanet Muric in January 2024, limiting his subsequent involvement.[26] In the 2024–25 EFL Championship season, Trafford featured in all 45 league matches, conceding only 16 goals and recording 29 clean sheets—a record-equalling feat in English football history that underscored his pivotal role in Burnley's promotion campaign.[27] Early in the season, he allowed just nine goals across the first 23 games, adapting effectively to the division's physical intensity and contributing to a defensive record of 13 goals conceded in 42 fixtures by April 2025.[28] Under new manager Scott Parker, who replaced Kompany in July 2024, Trafford thrived in a more pragmatic, counter-attacking setup that emphasized defensive solidity, with Parker publicly lauding his "world-class" distribution and recovery from the prior season's difficulties.[29] This tactical alignment enabled Burnley to secure automatic promotion with a 2–1 win over Sheffield United on 21 April 2025.[30]Return to Manchester City
In July 2025, Manchester City activated a buy-back clause to re-sign goalkeeper James Trafford from Burnley on a permanent transfer for a reported £27 million, marking his return to the club where he had developed through the academy.[31][32] The deal, completed on 29 July, saw Trafford sign a five-year contract until June 2030, with an option for an additional year, following strong performances during his two-year stint at Burnley that attracted interest from other Premier League clubs.[10][33] During the summer transfer window, Newcastle United had submitted a £27 million bid for Trafford, which Manchester City matched to secure his services, allowing the 22-year-old to opt for a reunion with his former club over a potential move to St James' Park.[32] Upon rejoining, Trafford entered a competitive goalkeeping hierarchy led by first-choice Ederson and backup Stefan Ortega, positioning him as the third option in the squad for the 2025-26 season.[31] He has primarily featured in training sessions focused on distribution and shot-stopping drills, while gradually integrating into first-team preparations under manager Pep Guardiola, who has emphasized his long-term development within the group.[10] Trafford made an immediate impact in the early 2025-26 Premier League matches, starting in the opening three fixtures: a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on 16 August, a 3-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur on 23 August, and a 4-2 triumph versus Brighton & Hove Albion on 31 August, where he recorded clean sheets in the latter two.[34] From matchday 4 onward (14 September to 2 November), he transitioned to substitute appearances on the bench for league games, with Ederson regaining the starting role. In domestic cups, he started both EFL Cup third-round and fourth-round ties, keeping a clean sheet in a 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town on 24 September and contributing to a 2-1 victory against Swansea City on 29 October.[34] Trafford has remained an unused substitute in all UEFA Champions League group stage matches up to 5 November, including games against Napoli, Monaco, Villarreal, and Borussia Dortmund, underscoring his rotational role in European competitions.[34]International career
Youth international career
Trafford began his international career with England's youth teams in 2018, making two appearances for the under-16 side in February of that year.[35] He progressed to the under-17 level later in 2018, debuting on 24 March against Croatia, where he saved a penalty and secured a clean sheet in a 3-0 victory.[7] Over the following months, he earned approximately seven caps for the U17s, including one appearance at the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Ireland, where England reached the final but lost to the Netherlands.[36] Trafford continued his development with limited outings at higher youth levels, featuring twice for the under-18s in 2019 and making his under-20 debut in September 2021 during a 6-1 win over Romania.[37] He recorded four appearances for the U20s in the Elite League. In May 2022, he received his first call-up to the under-21 squad ahead of 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers, going on to earn 19 caps at that level by 2024.[38] His standout youth performances came during the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Georgia and Romania, where he started all six matches for England, keeping six clean sheets—the first goalkeeper to achieve this in a final tournament without conceding—and saving a penalty in stoppage time during the 1–0 victory over Spain in the final, securing the title.[39] Overall, Trafford amassed more than 30 youth international caps across various age groups, with his U21 success in 2023 elevating him toward senior team consideration.[37]Senior international career
Trafford received his first senior call-up to the England squad in March 2024, joining from the under-21 team for the friendly against Belgium following an injury to Sam Johnstone.[40] He participated in training sessions with the senior group at Tottenham Hotspur's facilities but did not feature in the match.[40] This opportunity came on the back of his standout performances in helping England win the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, marking a key pathway to senior consideration.[41] In November 2024, Trafford earned another inclusion in the senior squad for UEFA Nations League fixtures against Greece and Ireland, again training with the group under Gareth Southgate without making a debut.[42] He was part of the provisional 33-man squad for UEFA Euro 2024 but was omitted from the final 26-man selection in June 2024, with Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, and Aaron Ramsdale retained as the goalkeepers.[43] Despite the disappointment, Trafford continued to be named in subsequent squads, including four consecutive international windows leading into late 2025, where he focused on preparation and adaptation to senior-level demands without earning a cap.[41] Following Southgate's departure after Euro 2024, new manager Thomas Tuchel included Trafford in his debut squad in March 2025 for World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia, praising his potential amid ongoing competition from established keepers.[44] Trafford remained in contention through the September and October 2025 camps, training intensively to position himself for a debut opportunity.[45] On 11 November 2025, he was added to the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania following Nick Pope's injury withdrawal, joining Dean Henderson and Jordan Pickford as the goalkeepers.[46] Despite the inclusion, Trafford did not earn his senior debut in the 2–0 victories over Serbia (13 November) and Albania (16 November), remaining uncapped at senior level as of November 2025.[47][48] This latest call-up underscored his status as a promising prospect in England's competitive goalkeeping department.Playing style and reputation
Playing style
James Trafford stands at 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) tall and is right-footed, possessing a relatively lean build that contributes to his impressive physical dominance as a goalkeeper.[49] His height and athleticism provide a strong aerial presence, allowing him to excel in duels and claim crosses effectively, while his flexibility and reflexes enable quick reactions for shot-stopping in high-pressure situations.[49][50] Trafford demonstrates proficiency in distribution, being very comfortable with the ball at his feet—a skill honed through Manchester City's possession-based academy training and England youth setups.[49] In the Championship during the 2024/25 season, he achieved a pass completion rate of 75.0%, with notable competence in long-range passing that supports build-up play from the back.[51] This attribute aligns him with modern goalkeeping demands, drawing brief comparisons to Ederson due to shared academy influences at Manchester City.[52] He exhibits strong command of his penalty area, particularly in one-on-one situations, where his physicality and reflexes allow for impressive interventions against advancing forwards.[49] His shot-stopping ability is rated very strong, with quick reflexes aiding saves on close-range efforts.[50] Analysts have noted areas for improvement, such as occasional lapses in decision-making when rushing out aggressively to intercept plays, which can expose vulnerabilities in transitional moments.[53] This aggressiveness, while a core part of his style, requires refinement to minimize errors in elite-level matches up to 2025.[54]Reputation
James Trafford is widely regarded as one of the premier young goalkeeper prospects in English football, having established himself as a highly promising talent through his performances in the EFL and subsequent return to Manchester City. His market value stands at €30 million as of October 2025, reflecting the high esteem in which he is held by clubs and scouts across Europe.[6] In October 2025, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola publicly endorsed Trafford's potential on the international stage, stating that the 23-year-old "will be [England's] No. 1 sooner or later," underscoring the long-term faith in his abilities despite limited first-team opportunities at the club. This praise from a figure of Guardiola's stature has further solidified Trafford's reputation as a future cornerstone for both club and country.[41] Trafford's profile received a significant boost from his standout 2024-25 season with Burnley, where he became the first goalkeeper to win the PFA Championship Players' Player of the Year award, in addition to being named Championship Goalkeeper of the Year. This accolade, voted by his peers, highlighted his exceptional shot-stopping and command of the penalty area, elevating him into prominent media and analyst discussions as a top emerging talent. He has been featured in rankings of the best young goalkeepers, such as Red Bull's list of promising prospects for the 2025-26 season, emphasizing his sweeper-keeper attributes and overall potential.[5][55]Career summary
Club career statistics
James Trafford's senior club career statistics are summarized below, covering appearances, minutes played, goals against (GA), and clean sheets (CS) across various competitions from his professional debut in 2021 up to November 2025. Data includes league matches, domestic cups, and playoffs where applicable.[56]| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Min | GA | CS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Accrington Stanley | League One | 11 | 990 | 26 | 2 |
| 2021–22 | Bolton Wanderers | League One | 22 | 1,980 | 20 | 7 |
| 2022–23 | Bolton Wanderers | League One | 45 | 4,050 | 34 | 22 |
| 2022–23 | Bolton Wanderers | FA Cup | 1 | 90 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | Bolton Wanderers | EFL Trophy | 4 | 360 | 0 | 4 |
| 2022–23 | Bolton Wanderers | League One Play-offs | 2 | 180 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | Burnley | Premier League | 28 | 2,520 | 62 | 2 |
| 2024–25 | Burnley | Championship | 45 | 4,050 | 16 | 29 |
| 2025–26 | Manchester City | Premier League | 3 | 270 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025–26 | Manchester City | EFL Cup | 2 | 180 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 163 | 14,670 | 167 | 68 |
International career statistics
Senior
Trafford has been called up to the England senior squad 13 times as of November 2025 but remains uncapped at the senior level.[58]| Level | Caps | Min | GA | CS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Youth
Trafford has earned 35 caps across England's youth teams, spanning U16 to U21 levels, with notable contributions including the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship victory where he played in the final. Detailed breakdowns by level are not fully itemized in available records, but his U21 appearances total at least 14, including tournament play. He debuted for the U21s on 25 March 2022 against Slovenia. Overall youth clean sheets exceed 15 across these matches.[37][58]| Level | Caps | Min (approx.) | GA (approx.) | CS (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U16–U19 | 21 | 1,800+ | 20+ | 10+ |
| U21 | 14 | 1,260 | 12 | 6 |
| Total | 35 | 3,060+ | 32+ | 16+ |
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