Not playing at Man City 'horrendous' - Trafford

What the report says

James Trafford has described last season as "horrendous" because of his lack of regular football at Manchester City, saying the experience pushed him to leave in search of first-team matches. BBC Sport reported that City re-signed the academy goalkeeper in July 2025, but after Gianluigi Donnarumma arrived from Paris St-Germain, Trafford was quickly moved out of the starting role. He later reflected that being on the sidelines affected him personally, while also noting he still collected silverware after starting both of City’s domestic cup finals.

Trafford also spoke about the importance of staying in the England setup, saying he wants to become the national team’s first-choice goalkeeper. He was in England’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, where he did not play, and said the experience was valuable even without minutes on the pitch. The BBC noted that he sees regular club football as key to reaching that goal.

After the World Cup, Trafford joined Leeds United in a deal worth up to £45m, a record fee for a British goalkeeper. Since moving to Elland Road, he has started every Premier League match for Leeds this season, keeping three clean sheets. Leeds are currently mid-table and close to the European places, and Trafford said the club have a strong fanbase and room to grow, with European qualification an ambition rather than an immediate claim.