Leeds United in advanced talks to sign City goalkeeper Trafford
Leeds United is leading the race to sign Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford to replace two departing players and stabilise its squad ahead of the new season.
Leeds United has opened negotiations with Manchester City for the transfer of goalkeeper James Trafford. The 23-year-old England international is the club's primary target to fill a sudden void in its squad. The move comes as Leeds attempts to navigate a turbulent summer transfer window.
The club has already lost both of its senior goalkeepers. Karl Darlow joined Manchester United on a free transfer, while Illan Meslier moved to Arsenal under similar terms. These departures represent a notable drain on the club's squad depth without generating transfer fees.
Lucas Perri and third-choice Alex Cairns are currently the only senior goalkeepers on Leeds' books. However, Perri endured an unconvincing debut season and was ultimately dropped by manager Daniel Farke. This left the club in a precarious position heading into the new campaign.
Trafford returned to the Etihad Stadium from Burnley for the 2025/26 campaign. During that period, he made 17 appearances and kept eight clean sheets. He later travelled to the 2026 World Cup with Thomas Tuchel's England squad, though he did not make an appearance.
Newcastle and Aston Villa have both shown interest in the goalkeeper this summer. However, Leeds are understood to be the most advanced in their pursuit. The club remains hopeful about its chances of securing a deal.
Securing Trafford is a necessary prerequisite before Leeds can execute further squad restructuring. Torino has expressed interest in acquiring Perri. Leeds is unwilling to sanction the Brazilian's departure until a replacement is signed, a strategy designed to avoid being left with insufficient cover.
The pursuit of Trafford fits into a wider financial reshuffle at the club. Leeds has already invested £34 million to acquire forward Tarik Muharemovic from Sassuolo. The club also added Harry Wilson from Fulham on a free transfer to bolster its attacking options.
To balance these expenditures, the club has actively sold assets. Pascal Struijk joined Brighton for £18 million. Additionally, Isaac Schmidt departed for Young Boys for an undisclosed fee. The Trafford deal would be the latest step in Leeds' efforts to rebuild its first-team roster.
