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James Trafford has left Manchester City to join Leeds United on a permanent deal. The 23-year-old goalkeeper departs after two separate stints with the club.
Trafford made 17 appearances in his second spell last season, contributing to FA Cup and Carabao Cup victories. His performance in the 2-0 Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal stood out as a highlight of his return.
The goalkeeper originally joined City's Academy in 2015 and spent eight years with the club in total. Loan spells at Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers preceded a permanent move to Burnley in 2023, where he made 73 appearances under Vincent Kompany.
Trafford rejoined City ahead of the 2025-26 season and earned two England caps during that second spell. He was also named in Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad, though he did not feature in the tournament.
"Manchester City will always mean a lot to me," Trafford said. "My two spells here were both really positive. To come through the Academy, learn the City way of playing football and spend time with so many top coaches and young players gave me a fantastic platform to have a career in the game. And to then come back and win two trophies felt really special."
City Director of Football Hugo Viana paid tribute to the departing keeper. "James showed everyone last season that he's a top goalkeeper. He was a key player for us in both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup – two competitions we were successful in. Leeds United are getting a 'keeper of high quality," Viana said.