Goalkeeper James Trafford has made his return to Manchester City from Burnley in a deal that the Clarets claim sets a new record for a British goalkeeper’s transfer fee.
Sources at City said the transfer is valued at £27 million plus additional bonuses.
However, Burnley sources report the total at £31 million, including add-ons and a sell-on clause.
This would surpass the previous record of £30 million that Everton paid Sunderland for Jordan Pickford in 2017.
Trafford, 22, a product of City’s academy, had joined Burnley for up to £19 million in July 2023.
He had a standout season, helping Scott Parker’s team secure promotion back to the Premier League by achieving 29 clean sheets in 45 Championship matches and earning a spot in the league’s team of the year.
In announcing his transfer, Burnley stated that the fee for Trafford represents a record for a British goalkeeper and a club record sale.
City had a buy-back option for Trafford and matching rights, allowing them to match any offers from other clubs.
They acted on this following a £27 million bid from Newcastle, leading Trafford to choose a return to Manchester.
He has signed a five-year contract with an option for an additional year at the Etihad Stadium and will wear the number one jersey.
“Returning to City is a very special and proud moment for both me and my family,” Trafford expressed, noting that he comes back as “a hundred times better” than the player who left in 2023. “I have always dreamed of coming back to Manchester City.
This is my home, it’s a truly remarkable football club. I’m still young and eager to learn and improve, and I know there’s no better place than Manchester City to help me become the best goalkeeper I can be.”
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Director of football Hugo Viana remarked, “James is already one of the most skilled young goalkeepers in English football, and we are thrilled to welcome him back to Manchester City.
He possesses all the qualities of a top-class goalkeeper.
We are confident he will be very successful and a leading goalkeeper for both Manchester City and the England national team.”
Trafford becomes the fourth goalkeeper available to manager Pep Guardiola, joining Ederson, Stefan Ortega, and Marcus Bettinelli. He will compete with Brazil’s Ederson, who has been the first-choice keeper for eight years.
Ederson is in the final year of his contract and has been rumored to be moving to Galatasaray, although he recently dismissed such speculation as “99% fake news.”
City has not received any offers for the 31-year-old, but there are concerns about Ortega’s future given the increased competition for playing time that Trafford’s arrival brings.
Trafford joined City’s academy in 2015 but did not make any first-team appearances, spending time on loan at Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers.
He made 73 appearances for Burnley, including 28 in the Premier League during the 2023-24 season.
