James Trafford gives his first sit down interview on leaving Burnley and return to Man City

James Trafford gives his first sit down interview on leaving newly promoted side Burnley and making a return to Man City.

The 22-year-old has signed on a five-year deal until June 2030, heading back to the club where he spent nearly eight years in the Academy before moving to Burnley in 2023.

Trafford gained recognition at Burnley, earning 29 clean sheets in 45 Championship matches during the 2024-25 season, equalling an English football record and helping secure promotion.

He set a Championship record with 12 consecutive clean sheets and was named in the Championship Team of the Year.

Excited to rejoin City, Trafford aims to develop under Pep Guardiola and contribute to the club’s success.

Director of Football Hugo Viana praised Trafford’s attributes and potential, noting his fit for the squad.

Trafford expressed pride in his unique journey, having progressed through City’s Academy, gone on loans to Accrington and Bolton, and returned after a permanent move to Burnley.

His ambition is to work hard daily and improve, with a message to City fans about his excitement to play for them and bring success.

MAN CITY STATEMENT:

Manchester City are delighted to confirm the signing of James Trafford from Burnley.

The 22-year-old English goalkeeper has completed a move to the Etihad Stadium, putting pen to paper on a five-year deal until June 2030.

It marks an emotional return to City for the England Under-21 international who spent almost eight years at the Club as part of our Academy before moving to Turf Moor in 2023.

During his subsequent two season stay in east Lancashire, Trafford has gone on to establish himself as one of the most coveted young goalkeepers operating in Europe.

Trafford earned widespread praise for his displays in his maiden campaign at Turf Moor playing under former City skipper Vincent Kompany.

Though that maiden campaign ended with relegation back to the Championship, Trafford only further enhanced his glowing reputation last term working under Scott Parker who succeeded Kompany.

Trafford emerged as one of the pivotal figures as Burnley sealed an instant return back to the topflight.

He chalked up astonishing 29 clean sheets in 45 Championship matches, equalling the record number of shut outs in a season in English football – conceding just 16 goals along the way.

That haul included a run of 12 consecutive clean sheets between December and February, a remarkable feat which saw the Cumbrian native create another Championship record.

He was subsequently named in the Championship Team of the Year.

Quickfire questions with Traff 💬 pic.twitter.com/BJNtZ86y7Y

— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 29, 2025

Now Trafford is back where his career started, and he said he was both hugely excited and proud to have joined Pep Guardiola’s star-studded City squad.

“Rejoining City is such special and proud moment both for me and my family,” James said.

“I always dreamed that one day I would be able to come back to Manchester City.

“This is the place I call home – it’s a truly special football club with fantastic people who make it such a unique place to work and play.

“I am also so 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.

“I also cannot wait to play in front of the amazing City fans for the first time and will do everything I can to help this great club look to achieve even more success.”

Director of Football Hugo Viana expressed his own delight at Trafford’s return to the Etihad.

“James is already one of the most accomplished young goalkeepers in the English game, and we are delighted to welcome him back to Manchester City.

“He has all the attributes a top-class goalkeeper requires. We feel he is an ideal fit for this squad and will bring great quality to the goalkeeping department.

“We fully believe he will be really successful and a top goalkeeper for Manchester City and the national team.

“I also have no doubt that working with Pep and the technical staff here at City will only see James further develop his abilities.”

Everyone at Manchester City is delighted to welcome James back to the club and we all wish him well during his time here.

INTERVIEW WITH JAMES TRAFFORD:

Welcome to Manchester City, firstly what does it mean for you to come back to the club?

It’s brilliant for me. It was one of my goals since I joined when I was 12 to play for Man City. I knew my journey would look different.

Throughout it I always believed I would be coming back and when I left on loan when I was 18 or when I left for Burnley when I was 20, I always believed that one day I would be back and I worked to achieve this moment.]

You always said it was one of your ambitions to be City’s number one. Maybe a brave statement a few years ago, but it’s clearly something you’ve believed and now you’re here, is that the goal now?

I always believed that I’d play for City and I knew the only person that could do that is me. I always believed that I’d get to this moment and now I’ve got this moment, I’ve just got to keep going.

How important was it to get time away from the Club, and develop yourself? Firstly on loan and then permanently.

It was massive for me. I just wanted to play as many games as I could and get as many experiences as I could. The loans were brilliant for me in that aspect, I got so many memories and developed so much.

Then two years ago when I had the opportunity [to move to] Burnley and I thought it was the right step for me in that moment and in the long term for what I wanted to achieve and to come back here. I’m happy that I’ve achieved it.

What are those experiences like in the lower leagues at Accrington and Bolton where you’re still highly thought of?

Accrington was brilliant. It was the polar opposite to when I was here. I went from the Champions League final to Accrington within two or three weeks and it couldn’t have been further apart.

Accrington was brilliant for me in the 11 games I played. And then went to Bolton and really got my feet under the table and lived every day and developed so much. The loans were fantastic for me and I made so many memories.

During your time away, how do you think you’ve improved? What’s the difference between the James who left and the one that’s come back?

I’m a lot older and miles more experienced. I’m 100 times better and I’ve improved in every aspect as a person and as a player.

Asking Trafford to sign an old photo 😆🖋️ pic.twitter.com/MTcoprLTyc

— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 29, 2025

How would you describe yourself as a goalkeeper? We know how excellent you are with the ball at your feet but there’s so much more to your game than that.

As a goalie, I’m aggressive – I just want to win and to ty to do everything I can to win, whether it’s making saves, whether it’s anything. I just want to win.

Burnley only conceded 16 goals last season. How do you look back on that record, your role in it and the season as a whole? They’re staggering statistics to get promotion on the back of. 

The season as a whole was amazing. The group that we had, the manager, the staff, it was brilliant. The records are nice but the main thing is we got promoted and everyone played their part in achieving that.

Although in the Championship, do you think playing with the pressure to win every week has helped you coming back to City now where the expectations will probably be similar?

It’s helped me, but throughout my time away from the Club I’ve had all different experiences. I’ve had the relegation with Burnley, I had the promotion.

I had the one at Bolton where we were trying to get in the play-offs. I’ve had all the experiences and nothing will be a surprise to me.

We can’t not talk about penalty saving either. Especially the top of the table clash with Sunderland last year, two in the same game. But before that the Euros U21s final as well. Do you relish that pressure, what’s going through your mind in that moment to stand up and deliver?

Yeah, it’s just good fun isn’t it! You’ve got to do as much as you can to save the penalty and you’ve just got to try and get all the odds in your favour.

And you’re also one of the first Academy players to progress through the system, go out on loan, leave permanently but then also come back to the Club. How proud are you of that and your journey? It’s unique to you. 

Yeah it’s obviously extremely unique for this to happen and yeah it’s just my journey. I always believed this moment would come and yeah everyone’s journey is different but I’m proud of myself for doing it. I always believed it would happen.

How do you view the City group you’re coming into ahead of the season?

They’re obviously one of the best teams in the world. The most successful team over the last 10 years and yeah it’s something I’m really excited for.

I’m excited to see everyone again, I saw [James] McAtee on Friday. I’m excited and just can’t wait to get to work with all the lads and just improve myself.

First training session for James Trafford🧤🩵 pic.twitter.com/ZscvOHvkVx

— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 29, 2025

You’ve worked with Ederson before, just tell us about him as a goalkeeper and how he’s inspired you and your game?

Obviously when he first joined he’s extremely talented, he’s one of a kind with the ball at his feet, he’s someone I looked up to a lot when I first trained with him when I was 17.

And I just tried to take small bits of his game and try and put them into my game and improve. I’m excited to work with all the goalkeepers and just push each other and improve.

We know how important family is to you. Just how proud of you are they on this move? What have they said to you about this?

Yeah they’re obviously extremely proud of me to get to this point and yeah they’re always proud of me whether I was working on the farm with my Dad or whatever, I was looking after the dogs with my Mum. Whatever happened, they’d always be proud of me because they’re my family.

And what would you say your sort of short-term and long-term ambitions are for your time at the Club?

I don’t really think too far ahead. I just want every day to work as hard as I can and improve and see where it takes me.

And just finally, what would your message to the City fans be?

I can’t wait to see you all because when I last saw you it was COVID and when I saw you at the Champions League final there wasn’t many fans because of the allocation but I can’t wait to see everyone and bring success to the Club.