Leeds United may look to sign 23-year-old English goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by TEAMtalk, James Trafford is the subject of interest from Leeds United. The Whites are keen on bolstering their first-team squad by signing a goalkeeper in the summer transfer window. So, the 23-year-old Manchester City shot-stopper has emerged as a target for the West Yorkshire outfit.
Daniel Farke has “been notably underwhelmed by summer signing Lucas Perri” due to the Brazilian goalkeeper’s inconsistencies this term. While Perri was the first-choice shot-stopper for Leeds United in the first half of the 2025/26 season, Karl Darlow has usurped him in recent weeks. So, Trafford has emerged as a target for the 2024/25 EFL Championship winners.
What has led to James Trafford’s frustrations?
James Trafford rejoined Manchester City from Burnley in a deal worth £27 million last summer after establishing himself as one of the world’s best young goalkeepers in an excellent 2024/25 season. The 23-year-old was instrumental in Burnley’s Premier League promotion-seeking campaign. That compelled Manchester City to re-sign the Englishman around seven months ago.
However, Trafford has fallen in the pecking order after Manchester City signed Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day of the summer transfer window. The English goalkeeper has managed only 900 minutes of game time in ten outings for Manchester City thus far. So, a summer exit may be on the cards for him, with Leeds United among the prospective suitors vying for his signature.
Move across the Premier League on the cards?
Leeds United’s interest in James Trafford is understandable. The West Yorkshire outfit signed a new goalkeeper last summer, with Lucas Perri arriving from Lyon in a deal worth £13.9 million. However, while the Brazilian shot-stopper was the first-choice starter between the sticks in the first half of the 2025/26 season, he has fallen behind Karl Darlow in recent weeks.
The latest report has revealed that Daniel Farke has “been notably underwhelmed by Perri” due to his inconsistent performances. So, Leeds United may return to the market for a goalkeeper in the summer transfer window, only a year after securing Perri’s services. So, Trafford has emerged as a viable target for Leeds United.
Manchester City may not stand in Trafford’s way, although they will demand a significant fee to part ways with the 23-year-old Englishman. It will be interesting to see if Leeds United can sign Trafford from Manchester City in the summer transfer window.
