£40m deal with sell‑on clause sends James Trafford to Leeds

Leeds United and Manchester City have agreed a £40 million transfer for goalkeeper James Trafford, with an additional £5 million in add‑ons and a sell‑on clause that secures City a future financial stake, finalising his permanent exit one year after the club re‑signed him from Burnley.

Leeds faced an urgent need for a senior goalkeeper after Karl Darlow left for Manchester United and Illan Meslier departed for Arsenal, leaving head coach Daniel Farke with limited senior options ahead of a pivotal campaign on their return to the top flight.

Despite interest from Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Tottenham, Elland Road emerged as Trafford’s preferred destination, with the club’s director of football Hugo Viana confirming the sale aligned with Leeds’ immediate goalkeeping requirements.

Manchester City were prepared to let the 23‑year‑old go because he could not secure regular first‑team football at the Etihad Stadium, where Gianluigi Donnarumma is the undisputed number one, and under new boss Enzo Maresca the pathway to senior appearances remained unclear.

The agreement is valued at £40 million plus £5 million in add‑ons and includes a sell‑on clause, representing a modest return on the £27 million City paid to re‑sign the former Academy starlet from Burnley just twelve months earlier.

For Leeds, the deal provides a clear first‑choice goalkeeper for the season, while City retain a future financial interest and will rely on Marcus Bettinelli as experienced cover and Oliver Whatmuff as a developing domestic prospect.