James Trafford: Leeds United's Top Goalkeeping Target
James Trafford has moved to the top of Leeds United’s summer wishlist as Daniel Farke hunts for a new No.1 to anchor his Premier League return.
Leeds have opened talks with Manchester City over a deal for the 23-year-old, with club officials pushing hard to bring the England international to Elland Road after losing both of last season’s senior goalkeepers in quick succession.
Karl Darlow, who finished the campaign as first choice, has joined Manchester United on a free transfer. Illan Meslier has gone to Arsenal. Two experienced keepers out the door, and a glaring vacancy between the posts.
Farke still has Lucas Perri, signed from Lyon last summer, and long-serving back-up Alex Cairns on the books. Neither is viewed as the man to lead Leeds into the 2026/27 Premier League season. The plan is clear: sign a ready-made No.1. Trafford is that plan.
Trafford’s crossroads
Trafford’s situation at City has created the opening Leeds needed.
Newcastle United pushed hard to sign him last summer, only for the goalkeeper to choose a return to the Etihad from Burnley. He did so believing he would inherit the gloves after Ederson’s move to Fenerbahce.
Then came Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The late arrival of the Italy international shoved Trafford down to No.2, and he spent the 2025/26 campaign as understudy. He still featured 17 times across all competitions and played his part in City’s Carabao Cup and FA Cup triumphs, but the role never matched his expectations.
In February, Trafford admitted that being second choice “wasn't what I expected” and that he had “tried to guard against the situation happening”. The frustration has not eased. At 23, with medals in his pocket and international recognition on his CV, he wants a full season as a Premier League starter, not sporadic cup outings.
That is where Leeds step in.
Leeds in pole position
According to The Athletic, Trafford has now emerged as Leeds’ priority target and talks are under way with City. Despite renewed interest from Newcastle, the City keeper is leaning towards Elland Road as his next move.
Newcastle, who had him in their sights a year ago, are again in the market for a goalkeeper but are now being forced to look elsewhere. With Trafford favouring Leeds, Eddie Howe’s recruitment team have turned to other options, including Parma’s Zion Suzuki and Brighton’s Carl Rushworth.
Leeds, by contrast, can offer something far more powerful than a rotation role: a clear pathway to being undisputed No.1 in a side built to stabilise in the top flight.
Proven pedigree, rising profile
Trafford’s appeal is obvious. Before returning to City, he spent two seasons as Burnley’s nailed-on first choice, a central figure in a defence that conceded just 16 goals in 46 Championship matches in 2024/25. That record, miserly even by promotion-winning standards, underlined his command of the penalty area and consistency over a long, unforgiving campaign.
His form at club level pushed him onto the international stage. The Cockermouth-born keeper made his England debut in March, earning the first of two caps, and travelled with Thomas Tuchel’s squad to the World Cup this summer. For a player still in his early twenties, that is heavyweight experience.
All of it feeds into the decision he faces now. Stay at City, collect more silverware, but watch Donnarumma dominate the big nights. Or walk into Elland Road, take the shirt, and define his own career rather than someone else’s.
Leeds know which version they are selling.
