Leeds United in Talks to Sign Man City Goalkeeper James Trafford
Leeds United are closing in on their new No 1, with talks progressing over a deal for Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford.
The 23-year-old, who returned to the Etihad from Burnley and featured 17 times for City in the 2025/26 campaign, has emerged as Leeds’ primary target between the posts. He kept eight clean sheets in those appearances, enough to catch the eye not only of Elland Road but of several Premier League rivals.
Newcastle and Aston Villa have both tracked Trafford this summer, yet Leeds are understood to be ahead of the pack, pushing hardest to secure his signature. The Yorkshire club’s need is obvious and urgent.
Karl Darlow has departed for Manchester United. Illan Meslier has joined Arsenal. Two senior goalkeepers gone, both on free transfers, leaving a gaping hole in Daniel Farke’s squad and a clear mandate for the recruitment team: find a first-choice keeper with pedigree and room to grow.
Trafford fits that brief. He travelled with England to the 2026 World Cup under Thomas Tuchel, part of the national squad but unused throughout the tournament. Even without minutes, that call-up underlines the regard in which he is held inside the England set-up and at City.
Leeds have already moved decisively in other areas of the pitch. Tarik Muharemovic has arrived from Sassuolo in a £34m deal, a statement of intent at the back. Harry Wilson has joined on a free from Fulham to add creativity and set-piece quality.
There have been significant exits too. Pascal Struijk has left for Brighton in an £18m move, while Isaac Schmidt has joined Young Boys for an undisclosed fee, trimming the squad and freeing up space for targeted reinforcements.
All of that points in one direction: this is a Leeds side being reshaped, not patched up. The next piece of that rebuild is clear. If they can now prise James Trafford away from Manchester City, they will have their new cornerstone in goal – and a very different look to the spine of the team when the season kicks off.
