23 Jul 2026 17:04:54
James Trafford to #LUFC latest:
• The goalkeeper wants to join Leeds United. Talks are extremely advanced – first-option/ buyback clause and club performance clauses being negotiated within Trafford's Leeds contract. [Ben Jacobs/ Alex Crook]
• Newcastle were offered the player in June while discussing Sandro Tonali but no interest. Leeds are leading the race. [David Ornstein]
• Aston Villa and Spurs were also keen, but Trafford wants to play at Leeds – he sees a chance to build his future at the club. [Daily Mail]
• Villa dropped out of the race after deciding to retain Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Newcastle baulked at City's £40m valuation. Leeds have been working on the deal since February. [James Marshment]
James Trafford would be an enormous statement and a transformational signing for Leeds.
When Lucas Perri was dropped last season, he had the worst save percentage in the Premier League. Trafford had the 2nd best in all competitions (75.5%) with 5.8 prevented goals per xGoT. [Jonny Cooper – Opta]
The 6'5" 23-year-old was between the sticks for Burnley in their race to 100 points during the 2024-25 season, when Leeds also reached that tally.
But where Leeds won the Championship with attacking power and possession, Burnley came 2nd through defensive solidity and Trafford was a big part of that - conceding just 16 goals in 45 games.
That season at Burnley, Trafford had an 84.6% save percentage, prevented 12.58 goals, saved the 2 penalties he faced, made 88 saves and kept 29 clean sheets. [fotMOB]
Trafford's time at Burnley was so impressive it made Manchester City trigger their buy-back clause (first option/ price match) and pay a record fee for a British goalkeeper to take him back to the Etihad when they paid £27m (rising to £31m) .
That clause was triggered when Newcastle bid £31m for the player.
Manchester City are negotiating a similar buyback clause with Leeds.
Last year, Trafford signed a five-year deal with the club he spent his youth at.
But the goalkeeper was gazumped when the Citizens brought in Gianluigi Donnarumma on deadline day and Trafford was demoted to the bench.
City value the player at £40m – meaning that should that valuation be met, he would break his own British record fee for a goalkeeper again within a year.
This would be a monumental statement of a signing from Leeds United.
A top goalkeeper was one of the biggest missing pieces from the starting eleven and cost the Yorkshire club significantly at the start of last season.
In fact, goalkeepers have been a problem position for the Whites for years.
Illan Meslier, Kiko Casilla, Bailey Peacock-Farrell all came, were relatively poor and left. Karl Darlow was Leeds' best option since Rob Green.
But James Trafford might be the best goalkeeper to pull on a Leeds shirt since. Paul Robinson? Nigel Martyn?
Trafford is England's number one-in-waiting. He was at the World Cup this summer which is why a deal has taken this long to materialise.
The transfer is very advanced, but it is still not done. But if Leeds land Trafford, and he stays fit and performs anywhere near the levels he is capable – it would open up many possibilities for Leeds including reverting to Farke's favoured 4-2-3-1.
With a top stopper between the sticks, Leeds' attack could be unlocked, knowing that they can take a few more risks.
This is a very, very, exciting potential transfer.
And this window is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory for Leeds United.
Adonis Storr on X.
1.) 23 Jul 2026
23 Jul 2026 17:55:05
Brilliant post, absolutely spot on. What a statement signing, indeed. He could be our keeper for ten years!
Please let this happen.
2.) 23 Jul 2026
23 Jul 2026 17:55:07
Get it done, whatever the cost, he's young & only going to improve!. ???
3.) 23 Jul 2026
23 Jul 2026 17:56:34
Hmm.
So, if Leeds were to splash £40 million plus of their moderate transfer kitty on Trafford..
Citeh could buy him back with their own negotiated first option buy-back clause next summer?
Better be a considerably higher buy-back clause for a good profit, at least.
4.) 23 Jul 2026
23 Jul 2026 18:05:41
Agree, Alf, with most of what you've said. It will be a big statement if we get him, and hopefully stop the procession of not necessarily poor but definitely inconsistent keepers we've had for some time.
Those we've bought so far have been upgrades, and we've not lost anyone apart from Pascal, although I think there might be an odd one or two from last year's squad who do move on.
We've also managed to shift some wages with Wober, and hopefully JH.
We still need an additional striker, an am, and a bit more cover at fb, so I hope there will be more incomings.
Just back to Trafford. You mentioned his shot-stopping ability. My Burnley mate, who's a season-ticket holder, has seen a lot of him, and his comments were that he is a great shot-stopper, but if he has a weakness it's with crosses. I'm sorry to see KD go, but hopefully we'll get someone who can be a step up.
5.) 23 Jul 2026
23 Jul 2026 18:15:29
Potential deal breaker for me, he must agree upon signing that he will only ever have his first name "James" on his shirt, no agreement, no deal.
James, less letters, cheaper to print, win win!
6.) 23 Jul 2026
23 Jul 2026 18:22:30
Weakness for 40 million. ?♂️
7.) 23 Jul 2026
23 Jul 2026 18:29:43
Indeed, Dune. Definitely sorry to see Darlow go, and yes, Trafford isn't great at commanding his area and coming for crosses.
Although Trafford had a good season for Burnley in Champo.
Trafford did concede a whopping 62 goals in 28 games for Burnley in EPL seez 23/24.
Not sure of his save % in 23/24.
But yes, he is a good shot stopper imo.
No surprise at all on Perri having the worst gk save percentage stats in EPL last seez. Woeful signing by Leeds.
8.) 23 Jul 2026
23 Jul 2026 18:17:19
Harrison deal my be on the cards I do hope we can offload this man at ant cost get him gone with the worst luck in your playing career possible as he stuck two fingers up to us, no great loss anyway.
9.) 23 Jul 2026
23 Jul 2026 22:55:03
The only words in Alf's post I don't like are "buyback clause". We mustn't accept a deal like the one Burnley had where MC were able to demand he be sold back to them. First refusal is fine, mandatory sale is not. It will certainly be a statement deal if it comes off.
10.) 23 Jul 2026
23 Jul 2026 23:07:14
Don't worry about the name Trafford on his shirt, Class, when Old Trashyard is demolished, Devon's new home will be the Snapdragon Stadium or something similar.
11.) 24 Jul 2026
24 Jul 2026 07:16:44
I hope it earns the name "Theatre of Memes", when they get relegated to the champo in their first season playing there!
12.) 24 Jul 2026
24 Jul 2026 08:02:00
Just to clarify, I don't write that it's a copy and paste from a post on X, but I thought it was so good I couldn't really rewrite it and keep it as informative and concise.
I'm also uneasy about the buyback clause, but as long as it would give us a profit, I guess we may have to dance with the devil.
I did see rumours that the buyback would be for a loss, but for me that wouldn't make any sense at all.