Trafford calls lack of playing time at Manchester City ‘horrendous’

James Trafford says his lack of playing time at Manchester City last season was “horrendous”, and that he needed regular football for his mental wellbeing. The England goalkeeper has since joined Leeds United, where he has started every Premier League match this season.

Trafford returned to City in July 2025, two years after leaving for Burnley. Less than six weeks later, Gianluigi Donnarumma arrived from Paris St-Germain and became the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. Trafford started City’s first three league matches of the campaign, then made only one more start in the next 35.

“What a horrendous, horrendous feeling. Not playing,” Trafford told BBC Sport’s Football Daily podcast. He said he would call family and friends to talk through difficult days.

Despite his limited league appearances, Trafford said he was grateful for his final season at City. He started both the League Cup and FA Cup finals, and said he had learned and improved before moving on.

Trafford was also part of England’s 2026 World Cup squad, though he did not play. He said being included was an “incredible experience” and that becoming England’s first-choice goalkeeper remained his aim.

He joined Leeds after the tournament in a deal worth up to £45m, a record for a British goalkeeper, according to the BBC. He has kept three clean sheets in nine league starts. Leeds were 12th before this weekend’s fixtures, two points off the European places.