Manchester City have completed the signing of goalkeeper James Trafford from Burnley, who has been sold for a record fee for a British goalkeeper.
Trafford, who started his career at City's academy, returns to the Etihad Stadium for a second time following a standout season in the Championship, where he helped Burnley earn promotion with 29 clean sheets in his 45 appearances, including a record-breaking run of 12 consecutive shutouts.
The 22-year-old, who will wear the No 1 shirt, is Pep Guardiola’s sixth signing of the summer after Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Sverre Nypan.
“I always dreamed that one day I would be able to come back to Manchester City,” Trafford told the official club website.
“I am also very excited and honoured to have been given the opportunity to work under Pep and with such a world-class group of players.
“I am still very young and hungry to keep learning and improving – and I know there is no better environment than Manchester City to help make me become the best goalkeeper I can be.”
Trafford's signing reveal video
Welcome back, Traff! 🩵 pic.twitter.com/XiVA3P8hAL
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 29, 2025
Trafford’s career so far
Born in Cockermouth, Cumbria, Trafford played for his hometown club and then Carlisle United before signing for Man City's academy in 2015 as a 12-year-old.
Trafford progressed through the ranks and penned his first professional contract with City ahead of the 2020/21 campaign, going on to make his debut in the Football League Trophy later that season.
He made his first loan move in the summer of 2021, joining Accrington Stanley, before cutting short his stay in January 2022 and signing for Bolton Wanderers until the end of the season.
Trafford kept four clean sheets in his first four appearances - the first Bolton goalkeeper to achieve this - and went on to re-join the club on a season-long loan for the 2022/23 campaign.
He made a permanent move to Burnley in the summer of 2023, and was a key figure in their 2024/25 campaign where he equalled the all-time English record for clean sheets in a single season with 29 shutouts.
Trafford's form prompted Man City to bring him back to the Etihad, bolstering their goalkeeping options ahead of a new Premier League and UEFA Champions League campaign.
On the international stage, Trafford has represented England from Under-17 to Under-21 level. He received a first call-up to the senior set-up in March 2024 and was listed in Gareth Southgate's 2024 Euro provisional squad.
When could Trafford feature for Man City?
Trafford challenges Ederson, Stefan Ortega and fellow summer signing Bettinelli for a place in Man City's starting XI, with Guardiola's side facing Palermo in their only scheduled pre-season friendly on 9 August in Sicily.
Man City start their 2025/26 Premier League campaign at Wolverhampton Wanderers on 16 August.