Trafford was very close to joining Newcastle in the summer transfer window but joined Man City instead
James Trafford's Man City move hasn't panned out the way he would have wanted it to have done so far
James Trafford's Manchester City move hasn't panned out the way he would have wanted it to have done so far
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It is now over five weeks since the summer transfer window slammed shut and the 2025/26 season is beginning to take shape for Newcastle United and their Premier League rivals.
A number of summer signings have now had plenty of matches to make an impression with their new sides and that includes James Trafford, who re-joined Man City in a £27million deal.
Trafford left City to join Burnley in the summer of 2023 and the former England under-21 international goalkeeper made huge strides during his time with the Clarets.
It was no secret that Newcastle United twice tried to sign the 22-year-old in each of the last two summer transfer windows and had actually struck a deal to sign him from Burnley this summer.
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However, City had inserted a clause in the deal when he left the Etihad Stadium whereby they had the option to match any bid that was accepted by Burnley and when they did just that, the former Bolton loanee opted to move back to City to compete with Ederson for the number one spot.
He started in City's first three Premier League matches but when City decided to sell Ederson to Fenerbahce and replace him with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Trafford has been restricted to just one appearance in their 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town in the Carabao Cup third round.
Newcastle signed Aaron Ramsdale instead on an initial loan deal and while he too has only featured in the Carabao Cup for the Magpies, he has helped to elevate Nick Pope's performances to a higher level in the Newcastle goal.
So what next for Trafford at City and is there a major regret from his side that he decided to join City as opposed to Newcastle? Chronicle Live posed those questions to the Manchester Evening News' Chief Man City reporter Simon Bajkowski to get the inside track on Trafford's difficult return to Eastlands so far.
What was it that attracted Man City to move for James Trafford?
"He's a brilliant goalkeeper who can play for a top Premier League club and a top country. They felt they had to do something about their goalkeeping positions this summer and when Newcastle moved for him it was seen as an opportunity they couldn't resist.
"He was always seen as having the potential to return as City No 1 and that was still the case when he signed. It is just massively unfortunate for him that the rest of the window unfolded the way it did."
How has he started at Man City?
"The problem is he hasn't. He did very well in his debut at Wolves, very badly at home to Spurs the next game and then very well at Brighton the next game. Then Donnarumma arrived and the only sniff he has had since has been the League Cup.
"He spoke to us in Palermo the week before the season started and, very humbly, told us of his ambition to be City and England No 1 for the next decade. Both of those look remarkably far away now and we are only two months since he spoke."
What does he need to do to get back in the team?
"A serious injury to Donnarumma is about the only way he can get back in. Donnarumma has had a remarkable impact on the team in such a short space of time, giving confidence to the whole side in a way that Trafford wasn't able to simply because of where both are at in their respective careers.
"Donnarumma commands respect whereas Trafford was trying to earn it, and the longer he stays on the bench he is not going to get to change that unless Donnarumma is injured or decides to throw one into his net every week."
Is there regret from Trafford's side he didn't join Newcastle? Could a January move elsewhere be on the cards?
"I think there must be. Even if Nick Pope is still a very good goalkeeper who could have been keeping him out of the team, he is in the same bracket as Ederson in that Trafford will have viewed the situation as the question of him becoming No 1 being when rather than if. Donnarumma is only 26 though and just voted as the best goalkeeper in the world at the Ballon d'Or.
"Trafford might squeeze into the England squad for the World Cup if he stays at City this season, but the best hopes of him getting close to Thomas Tuchel's starting XI is with a January move.
"He has plenty of time left in his career of course, but there is a giant blocking his path at the Etihad."