Trafford says he left City for Leeds for mental wellbeing

James Trafford has revealed he left Manchester City for Leeds this summer to protect his mental wellbeing after being relegated to second‑choice goalkeeper.

Mental health and the City exit

He had previously sealed a dream return to the Etihad in the summer of 2025, two years after first leaving for Burnley.

Trafford has kept four Premier League clean sheets in ten games for Leeds this term,

Weeks later the Citizens signed Italy star Gianluigi Donnarumma in the same transfer window.

After starting the first three matches of the campaign, he made only one further Premier League start in the next thirty‑five games.

The twenty‑four‑year‑old then left the Etihad for Leeds in a club‑record £45 million move during the summer window.

Revival at Leeds and England ambitions

Since joining Leeds, he has been a standout performer in the top flight and started for England ahead of Jordan Pickford during the most recent international break.

Trafford said, “What a horrendous, horrendous feeling. Not playing.”

He explained that he rings his dad, mum, missus and mates to vent when he feels down.

He added that he had to play regularly this season for his own mental wellbeing.

Despite limited Premier League minutes, Trafford was City’s first‑choice goalkeeper in domestic cup competitions last term and lifted two trophies, Getty reported.

Confusion surrounds Manchester City sanction hearing as Premier League brings in top barrister.

Gianluigi Donnarumma’s European pedigree immediately saw him replace Trafford as Manchester City’s No.1, Getty noted.

“Maybe I’m different, I don’t know, but the feeling of not playing every week, it felt horrendous,” he said.

He said he needed weekly game time for mental feel‑good and to keep progressing toward his dreams.

He reflected that, despite limited playing time, valuable lessons came from his final season at City, where he started in both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup final victories at Wembley.

“Going into any season, I always have the highest of hopes and always the belief that it will go the best way it could,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t win all four trophies. It didn’t go how I expected it to go, but it happens,” he added.

“In the moment, I just tried to make the best of it as I could,” he continued.

“Looking back, I don’t think it was a disappointing season because I learned so much, improved so much and won two trophies in one year,” he concluded.

Trafford has earned four England caps to date, Getty confirms.

“There were moments when I was very down, regretting things and feeling disappointed, but looking back I’m very thankful for the experience. What an incredible year,” he said.

He now hopes to become England’s No.1, having served as back‑up to Jordan Pickford at the 2026 World Cup.

His strong form for Leeds was rewarded in the last international break, where he started in back‑to‑back Nations League games.

“It’s my aim and it’s something I’ve always dreamed of. I always believe that one day I could be England’s number one. Every day I try to keep improving to put myself in the best position to be England’s number one one day. I think everyone in the goalkeeping department with the national team wants to be number one because it’s an amazing position to be in,” he explained.