There has been a lot of talk around the situation of James Trafford following the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma at Man City on deadline day.
Man City acquired Donnarumma as part of a £30m deal with Paris Saint-Germain on the final day of the transfer window, with the Italian replacing Ederson at the Etihad Stadium.
Trafford’s plan when returning to Man City in July was to succeed the Brazilian goalkeeper in Manchester, whether that was this season or the next, when the 32-year-old’s contract was set to expire at the Premier League club.
The arrival of Donnarumma has thrown a spanner in the works of the 22-year-old’s plans, but despite the Italian joining Pep Guardiola’s squad, Trafford may still have been better off joining Man City over Newcastle.
James Trafford looking angry during Manchester City v Tottenham.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
James Trafford was not guaranteed a starting spot at Newcastle
Micah Richards has admitted that he feels sorry for Trafford following the arrival of Donnarumma at Man City, and that is a view many people in the football world share.
The 22-year-old also had the option to move to Newcastle this summer, but after City matched the Magpies’ bid for the goalkeeper, the Englishman opted to move to the Etihad Stadium with the hope that it would aid his chances of becoming England’s number one for the 2026 World Cup.
More Man City News
That seems to have backfired, but it was also not guaranteed that Trafford would be the number one at Newcastle.
Player Games Goals Conceded Clean Sheets Minutes
James Trafford 45 16 29 4050
Gianluigi Donnarumma 47 43 17 4192
James Trafford and Gianluigi Donnarumma’s 24/25 stats
Having missed out on the Man City star, Eddie Howe decided to bring Aaron Ramsdale to St James’ Park as the English coach wanted a younger option with Nick Pope set to turn 34 next year.
However, the veteran shot-stopper has started in every game for the Tyneside club so far this season, and who is to say that would not have been the case had Trafford moved to Newcastle?
The 22-year-old is better off being on the bench at City, learning from Donnarumma throughout the 2025/26 season, than being in the same situation at Newcastle.
Stuart Pearce believes this season could still be a positive one for Trafford, as the young goalkeeper will learn just how good he is competing against Donnarumma every day in training.
Gianluigi Donnarumma with his finger on his ear during Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid .
Photo by Patrick Smith – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
James Trafford could still end up at Newcastle
Had Trafford moved to Newcastle, there was more of a chance of taking over the number one role, as the 22-year-old is a better goalkeeper than Pope.
With one year left on his current deal at St James’ Park, the Man City star would have definitely been Howe’s number one for the 2026/27 campaign, which may not be the case at the Manchester club.
However, Trafford could still move to Newcastle next summer, as the Man City star will not want to stay on the bench if he is not given plenty of minutes this season, because that will not help his ambition to become the number one goalkeeper with England.
Therefore, the situation the 22-year-old currently finds himself in is not a disaster, as he might have still been on the bench at Newcastle this season, and there is still the possibility of that move happening next summer if things at City do not change.