James Trafford: Manchester Metropolis re-sign Burnley keeper for ‘British document charge’
“Rejoining Metropolis is such a particular and proud second each for me and my household,” Trafford stated, including that he was returning to the membership “100 instances higher” than the participant who left in 2023.
“I at all times dreamed that in the future I might be capable of come again to Manchester Metropolis.
“That is the place I name dwelling – it is a actually particular soccer membership.
“I’m nonetheless very younger and hungry to continue learning and enhancing – and I do know there is no such thing as a higher surroundings than Manchester Metropolis to assist make me turn out to be the perfect goalkeeper I may be.”
Director of soccer Hugo Viana added: “James is already some of the achieved younger goalkeepers within the English sport, and we’re delighted to welcome him again to Manchester Metropolis.
“He has all of the attributes a top-class goalkeeper requires.
“We absolutely consider he shall be actually profitable and a prime goalkeeper for Manchester Metropolis and the [England] nationwide crew.”
Trafford is the fourth goalkeeper at supervisor Pep Guardiola’s disposal, with Ederson, Stefan Ortega and Marcus Bettinelli already on the membership.
Trafford will problem Brazil’s Ederson, who has been first selection for eight years, for the primary spot.
Ederson is within the last 12 months of his contract and has been linked with a transfer to Galatasaray, however final month described rumours of a departure as “99% faux information”.
Metropolis haven’t acquired any bids for the 31-year-old, however there are doubts about the way forward for German Ortega given the elevated competitors for sport time Trafford’s arrival will deliver.
Trafford signed for Metropolis’s academy in 2015 however didn’t make a first-team look and hung out on mortgage at Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers.
He made 73 appearances for Burnley, together with 28 within the Premier League within the 2023-24 season.
Trafford has represented England from under-17 to under-21 degree, and was a part of the successful European Championship squad of 2023, throughout which he didn’t concede a objective.
He acquired his first senior worldwide call-up in 2024 however has but to make his debut at that degree.
Trafford is Metropolis’s sixth signing of the window after midfielders Tijjani Reijnders (preliminary charge of £46.5m), Rayan Cherki (preliminary charge of £30.5m) and Sverre Nypan (£12.5m); left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri (£31m) and Bettinelli (nominal charge).
Additionally they spent £200m within the January switch window to spice up their squad following vital accidents.