Manchester City have re-acquired James Trafford from Burnley, giving him a five-year deal that will keep him at the Etihad until 2030.
For the England youth international, who started his career with City’s Academy at just 12 years old, the move marks a notable comeback.
Spending almost ten years growing with the club, Trafford left to the Turf Moor in 2023 where he really found his own.
The Englishman was amazing consistently despite the Lancashire-based club’s tenure in the Championship.
Under Scott Parker last year, he kept an astounding 29 clean sheets in 45 league games—tying the all-time English football mark.
Conceding just 16 goals throughout the season, Trafford’s dominating performances enabled the Clarets to return to the Premier League.
His success won him a place on the Championship Team of the Year and made him known as one of the most promising young goalkeepers in Europe.
With added maturity and impetus, the goalie now returns to the Manchester side as a better and more accomplished player.
“Rejoining City is such special and proud moment both for me and my family,” the shot-stopper stated.
“I always dreamed that one day I would be able to come back to Manchester City. This is the place I call home – it’s a truly special football club with fantastic people who make it such a unique place to work and play.
“I am also so very excited and honoured to have been given the opportunity to work under Pep and with such a world-class group of players.”
With 12 straight clean sheets between December and February, he also reached another milestone.
He added: “I am still very young and hungry to keep learning and improving – and I know there is no better environment than Manchester City to help make me become the best goalkeeper I can be.
“I also cannot wait to play in front of the amazing City fans for the first time and will do everything I can to help this great club look to achieve even more success.”
The 22-year-old’s comeback deepens City’s goalkeeping ranks and reflects the club’s long-term goals now that he is part of Pep Guardiola’s elite squad.
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