
AI-generated summary
James Trafford returned to Manchester City in July 2025 after previously leaving to join Burnley. Gianluigi Donnarumma joined from Paris St-Germain less than six weeks later and became first-choice goalkeeper. Trafford started only one Premier League match after Donnarumma's arrival but won the League Cup and FA Cup. He then joined Leeds United in a deal worth up to £45m, a record for a British goalkeeper.
James Trafford says not playing for Manchester City last season was "horrendous" before he moved to Leeds United in the summer in search of first-team football.
City re-signed academy graduate Trafford in July 2025, two years after he had left the club to join Championship side Burnley.
But less than six weeks after his arrival, Italy international Gianluigi Donnarumma arrived from Paris St-Germain.
The 27-year-old, who helped the French club win the Champions League just weeks earlier, immediately became City's first-choice goalkeeper, leaving Trafford short of playing time.
After starting the first three matches of the campaign, 24-year-old Trafford made just one further Premier League start in the 35 games that followed Donnarumma's arrival.
Speaking on Football Daily's The Football Interview, Trafford reflected on the difficulties he encountered during a season on the fringes of Pep Guardiola's squad.
"What a horrendous, horrendous feeling. Not playing," said Trafford.
"You are ringing a lot of people and just venting. Like most people, you have a [bad] day at work and you ring someone up.
"I ring my dad, I ring my mum, I ring my missus, I ring my mates. I like ringing my mates and we can just have a good talk about it all. It's quite funny."
Despite his limited playing time, Trafford believes he still gained plenty from his final season at City, having helped the club win the League Cup and FA Cup after starting both finals 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 added.
"Unfortunately, we didn't win all four trophies. It didn't go how I expected it to go, but it happens.
"In the moment, I just tried to make the best of it as I could. Looking back, I don't think it was a disappointing season in the end because I learned so much, I improved so much and I won two trophies in one year.
"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."
After returning from the World Cup, Trafford left City to join Leeds United in a deal worth up to £45m - a record for a British goalkeeper.
Since arriving at Elland Road, he has relished the opportunity to play regularly in the Premier League.
The former Bolton Wanderers and Accrington Stanley loanee has started all nine of Leeds' Premier League matches this season, keeping three clean sheets, with only Brighton (seven) and Arsenal (five) having conceded fewer goals than Daniel Farke's side (eight).
His performances have helped Leeds to 12th in the table before this weekend's fixtures - just two points off the European places - and he says the club are only going to get better.
"I just think it's an incredible club," he said. "You look at the fanbase, everyone here - it's an incredible place. It's just somewhere that's only going and getting better.
"We'd love to get back into Europe. I think every club you ask would like to get into Europe, so the main goal is just to keep on improving."
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
James Trafford will continue to be Leeds United's first-choice goalkeeper for the remainder of the season
Likely · Within months

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