James Trafford sits in stands at Elland Road upon signing for Leeds United
James Trafford has started the journey to becoming England's future No.1 by sealing his record-breaking transfer to Leeds United.
He has now signed a five-year deal at Elland Road to become Leeds' highest-paid player, banking eye-watering wages of £170,000-a-week.
James Trafford signs contract upon signing for Leeds United3
Trafford has completed a permanent move to Leeds, becoming their highest-paid player
Leeds will pay a club-record fee for Trafford of £40m, plus add-ons. This eclipses the £36m they paid to sign Georginio Rutter in 2023.
The 23-year-old, who was an unused back-up to Jordan Pickford at the World Cup, has officially left Manchester City for a second time.
Trafford had been keen to leave City in search of a No.1 job at another Premier League club, as previously revealed by talkSPORT.
The goalkeeper, a former Newcastle target, played just 17 times after returning to his boyhood club from Burnley last summer.
Trafford rejoined the Etihad set-up last summer in a £27million deal - just two years after Pep Guardiola sanctioned his £14m exit.
He started in the opening three Premier League games of the season, but City's deadline-day swoop for Gianluigi Donnarumma relegated him to a No.2 role for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
Trafford ultimately made only one more top-flight appearance under Pep Guardiola, but kept eight clean sheets across all competitions to help the club claim a domestic double.
Upon sealing his departure from City, Trafford said in an emotional message to fans: "To everyone at Man City, it was my dream to play for the first team from when I moved away from home at 12.
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"And it makes me so proud to have achieved that last season, whilst also winning two trophies in the process.
"The fans singing my name was something I dreamt of when I went to the Etihad growing up through the academy.
James Trafford of Manchester City celebrates by lifting the Carabao Cup trophy after the Carabao Cup Final match Arsenal and between Manchester City at Wembley Stadium3
Trafford won two trophies last season with Man City
"I wish nothing but the best for the club for the future."
Upon signing for Leeds, Trafford captioned a social media post which showed a picture of him signing the contract: "Marching on together, let’s do something special."
Whites boss Daniel Farke was in desperate need of reinforcements between the sticks following a flurry of exits in that department.
Illan Meslier and Karl Darlow have already both left Leeds this summer, to back-up roles at Arsenal and Man United respectively.
Meanwhile, Brazilian shot-stopper Lucas Perri is closing in on a switch to Italian outfit Torino.
Trafford is a two-cap England international and was part of the squad at this summer's World Cup.
Trafford is in good company in terms of expensive Premier League goalkeepers3
Trafford is in good company in terms of expensive Premier League goalkeepers
Arguably the best achievement of the 23-year-old's career so far saw him help England win the Under-21 European Championship in 2023.
He proved to be the hero having saved a last-minute penalty to seal the Young Lions a 1-0 win over Spain.