Manchester City to re-sign England U21 Trafford from Burnley

The 22-year-old kept 29 clean sheets across 45 matches in the Championship last season

Photo from instagram.com/jamestrafford

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are closing in to re-sign former City academy graduate James Trafford from newly promoted side Burnley for a deal worth £27 million pounds ($36.3 million).

The England under-21 goalkeeper joined Burnley two years ago in a deal worth up to £19 million ($25.5 million) in the summer of 2023.

In the last season, the goalkeeper impressed as he kept 29 clean sheets across 45 matches helping Scott Parker’s side win promotion back to the Premier League.

Man City kept a buy-back clause and also a matching rights that allowed the former Champions League winners to match any offer for Trafford from another club.

After Newcastle submitted a £27 million bid for the young keeper, City matched the offer and Trafford also decided to return to his old club.

The highly rated goalkeeper is expected to sign a five-year contract with the option for another year at Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola will be having his fourth goalkeeper in Trafford as the Spaniard has Ederson, Stefan Ortega, and Marcus Bettinelli at his disposal.

Trafford, who joined City’s academy in 2015, never played for the first team but gained experience on loan at Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers.

The 22-year-old made 73 appearances for Burnley, including 28 Premier League matches in the 2023-24 season.