Man City re-sign Trafford in deal reportedly worth initial £27M

Pep Guardiola is shaking up Manchester Metropolis’s goalkeeping division.

James Trafford has returned to the Etihad Stadium two years after he left for Burnley on Tuesday. The 22-year-old made the swap to Metropolis in a deal value an preliminary £27 million however may surpass £30 million after bonuses, based on The Athletic’s David Ornstein. Jordan Pickford turned the most costly British goalkeeper in historical past when he joined Everton from Sunderland for £30 million in 2017.

Trafford inked a five-year contract with Metropolis.

Newcastle United had the chance to signal Trafford about two months in the past, earlier than Metropolis determined to make an strategy for his or her former academy participant, Ornstein studies.

Trafford’s arrival casts doubts on the futures of the opposite goalkeepers in Guardiola’s squad. Ederson, who’s been an everyday starter for the previous eight seasons, mentioned in June that rumors about him leaving have been “faux information” and that he’d stay on the membership for subsequent season. Stefan Ortega is linked to Fenerbahce and three Premier League golf equipment, Sky Sport Germany’s Florian Plettenberg reported Friday. Marcus Bettinelli joined Metropolis on a free switch from Chelsea earlier this summer season.

Trafford was a extremely regarded member of Metropolis’s youth ranks earlier than he flourished throughout an 18-month spell on mortgage in League One with Bolton Wanderers. He then performed a starring function for England throughout its triumphant run on the European Underneath-21 Championship forward of his switch to Burnley in July 2023.

The Cumbria native had a tough first season within the Premier League with Burnley and finally misplaced his place within the beginning lineup to Arijanet Muric. Nevertheless, Trafford was again at his finest final time period, conceding 16 targets in 45 Championship outings to assist the Clarets safe an instantaneous top-flight return.