James Trafford

Following his move to Leeds, Trafford's current-season form is level with last season (Season 10→10), while his Rating climbed 74→77. His peak season for form remains 2024/25 (Season 91).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	CS	CS%	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Leeds · 9th	1	1	100%	7.5	77	10
2025/26	Manchester City · 2nd	4	2	50%	7.08	74	10
2024/25	Burnley · 2nd	45	29	64%	7.02	80	91
2023/24	Burnley · 19th	28	1	4%	6.95	83	1
2022/23	BoltonLoan · 5th	47	22	47%	7.16	56	61

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 1 earlier season and 4 youth-team spells in the full career.

England · international

Side	Apps	G
England	2	0
England U21	15	0
England U17	3	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthGoalkeeper

J. Trafford is a 23-year-old goalkeeper at Manchester City, rated 74.4 overall by Field Insider's model. An emerging talent, he has been a fringe squad member this season (10.9% of available minutes). Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Trafford.

On the season, Trafford graded 10 for current form (age-blind), on 2 clean sheets across 4 appearances.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 10 → 10). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has held fairly steady, peaking in 2024/25.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 74. At 23 Trafford is still climbing toward his ceiling, and a market index of 89.3 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

A career still climbing — Trafford is at his peak right now, and the curve hasn't flattened.

Peak: 2024/25Trending upBreakout: 2024/25StreakyStepped up 2023/244 clubs

74.4

Ratingi

elite — among the best in the position

9.8

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

10.9%

Minutes

limited game time

0.48

Def. actions / 90

light defensive volume

Output in context · Manchester City finished 2nd of 20 · a title-challenging side

Apps

Clean sheets

50%

CS rate

10.9%

Minutes

2 clean sheets in 4 appearances (50% of games). Playing behind a title-challenging side (2nd of 20) means a more protected goal, so the read is about command and distribution as much as raw shut-outs.

Strengths

Pedigree. Performing in a top-tier setting (team strength 99.5/100).

Watch points

Game time. Only 10.9% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.

Outlook

Rated 74.4 overall — elite — among the best in the position. A limited game time keeper carrying the gloves this season. Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 2×) with the best seasons likely ahead. With this floor already at 23, the ceiling gets tested by a step up in level — one to track.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %10.9%

Available fixtures38 of 38

Goals / 900

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900

Defensive actions / 900.484

Player flow

Goal involvements0

Cards / 900

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~89), then tapers with age. At 23, Trafford sits on 89.3, at or near its peak. The blue line is Trafford's projected Rating — 74.4 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among goalkeepers in the Premier League with 600+ minutes this season.

Goalkeeping

Clean sheets2

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards0

Red cards0

Transfer history

LeedsAug 2026 – now

Manchester CityJul 2025 – Aug 2026

Burnleyuntil Jul 2025

Manchester City(back from loan)Jul 2023 – Jul 2025

Boltonuntil Jul 2023

Manchester City(back from loan)Jun 2022 – Jul 2023

Bolton(on loan)Jul 2022 – Jun 2022

Bolton(on loan)Jan 2022 – Jul 2022

Accrington ST(on loan)Jul 2021 – Jan 2022

Manchester Cityuntil Jul 2021

About J. Trafford

James Harrington Trafford is a 23-year-old goalkeeper who plays for Leeds, born on October 10, 2002 in Carlisle, standing 197 cm tall. He is from England. Leeds currently sit 9th of 20 in the Premier League.

This season

In the current season, J. Trafford has made 1 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 90 minutes, averaging a 7.05 match rating over his last 2 rated games.

Recent matches

August 25, 2026: 2-0 win away at Nottingham Forest (97 minutes, 6.9 rating)
August 22, 2026: 1-0 win away at Nottingham Forest (90 minutes, 7.2 rating)

J. Trafford's next match is on August 30, 2026, when Leeds face Brentford at home in the Premier League.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates J. Trafford at 74.4 with a Season form score of 9.8. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 17 career titles — among them the UEFA U21 Championship and the EFL Trophy. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 9 recorded seasons, J. Trafford has totalled 189 club appearances with 0 goals and 1 assist for 8 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2022/23, with 47 appearances for Bolton.

J. Trafford's career has also included time at Manchester City, Burnley, Bolton and Accrington ST.

On the international stage, J. Trafford has represented England, England U21, England U17 — 20 caps in our records.

Transfer news

→ LeedsConfirmed

James Trafford closing in on Leeds move

90%

will it happen

A James Trafford move to Leeds is gathering pace — 7 reports describe concrete progress (fee, terms or medical). The reporting is well-sourced (100% credibility), led by Yahoo Sports (Canada) — summary of reporting including David Ornstein / The Athletic, putting it at roughly 90% to complete.

100% credibility·9 reports·led by Yahoo Sports (Canada) — summary of reporting including David Ornstein / The Athletic

The reports (9)

Low-trust source · 33%Sky SportsConcreteNamed source
Leeds United are closing in on a deal with Manchester City to sign goalkeeper James Trafford — a club‑record move reported around £40m plus add‑ons, with terms progressing.
Leeds United are closing in on a deal with Manchester City to sign goalkeeper James Trafford — a club‑record move reported around £40m plus add‑ons, with terms progressing.
Low-trust source · 33%Sky SportsConcreteNamed source
Leeds United are set to agree a permanent deal to sign Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford for a club‑record fee.
Leeds United are set to agree a permanent deal to sign Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford for a club‑record fee.
Trusted source · 89%Yahoo Sports (Canada) — summary of reporting including David Ornstein / The AthleticConcreteNamed source
Multiple sources say Manchester City and Leeds are close to agreeing a deal to sign James Trafford, with Leeds reportedly including a sell‑on/clauses in the structure.
Multiple sources say Manchester City and Leeds are close to agreeing a deal to sign James Trafford, with Leeds reportedly including a sell‑on/clauses in the structure.
Trusted source · 89%The Leeds Press (reporting David Ornstein / The Athletic)ConcreteNamed source
Leeds United are on the verge of completing an agreement with Manchester City to sign James Trafford, with the deal reported around £40m plus bonuses.
Leeds United are on the verge of completing an agreement with Manchester City to sign James Trafford, with the deal reported around £40m plus bonuses.
Trusted source · 89%Fabrizio Romano (social post / Telegram mirror of his X post)ConcreteNamed source
Fabrizio Romano reports Leeds and Manchester City have reached a verbal/club‑to‑club agreement to sign James Trafford in a club‑record deal, with signatures expected soon.
Fabrizio Romano reports Leeds and Manchester City have reached a verbal/club‑to‑club agreement to sign James Trafford in a club‑record deal, with signatures expected soon.
Low-trust source · 30%TeamTalk
Reports: Leeds are closing on a club‑record signing of James Trafford from Manchester City; deal understood to be at least £40m plus add‑ons.
Reports: Leeds are closing on a club‑record signing of James Trafford from Manchester City; deal understood to be at least £40m plus add‑ons.
Mixed reliability · 63%LeedsAllOverConcreteNamed source
Leeds have reportedly agreed a sell‑on clause with Manchester City over the club‑record James Trafford deal as negotiations progress; fee reported in coverage as ~£40m.
Leeds have reportedly agreed a sell‑on clause with Manchester City over the club‑record James Trafford deal as negotiations progress; fee reported in coverage as ~£40m.
Mixed reliability · 48%Fichajes (Spain)
Italian/European outlets note Leeds and Man City have reached a verbal agreement for James Trafford and describe the transfer as a large/record fee for the club.
Italian/European outlets note Leeds and Man City have reached a verbal agreement for James Trafford and describe the transfer as a large/record fee for the club.
Mixed reliability · 48%Tribuna (English)ConcreteNamed source
News aggregation / regional outlet: Leeds are set to agree a £40m deal to sign James Trafford from Manchester City (coverage summarising Ornstein/Romano reporting).
News aggregation / regional outlet: Leeds are set to agree a £40m deal to sign James Trafford from Manchester City (coverage summarising Ornstein/Romano reporting).