Leeds in Talks for Man City's James Trafford
Leeds United are pushing hard to solve their goalkeeping problem and have turned their attention firmly to Manchester City’s James Trafford, with talks ongoing over a deal for the England international.
At 23, Trafford has emerged as Leeds’ primary target between the posts, a clear first choice rather than one name on a long list. Newcastle United and Aston Villa have both shown interest during this window, but Leeds are understood to be ahead of the pack, driving negotiations as they look to rebuild the spine of Daniel Farke’s side.
The move comes after a significant season in Trafford’s career. Returning to the Etihad from Burnley, he made 17 appearances for City in the 2025/26 campaign and kept eight clean sheets, a solid return in a squad where competition for places is relentless. His performances earned him a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the 2026 World Cup, where he travelled with the group but did not feature.
For Leeds, the need is urgent. The club have lost both of last season’s senior goalkeepers in quick succession: Karl Darlow has joined Manchester United on a free transfer, while Illan Meslier has moved to Arsenal, also on a free. Two experienced options gone, no obvious No 1 left. Trafford is being lined up to step straight into that void.
This is not a quiet summer at Elland Road. Leeds have already invested heavily in their outfield options, bringing in defender Tarik Muharemovic from Sassuolo in a £34m deal and adding Harry Wilson from Fulham on a free transfer. At the same time, they have sanctioned key departures: Pascal Struijk has joined Brighton for £18m, Isaac Schmidt has left for Young Boys for an undisclosed fee, with Darlow and Meslier completing their exits to the Premier League elite.
The pattern is clear. Leeds are reshaping, trimming and upgrading, trying to build a side capable of sustaining a push over a long season. But no rebuild feels secure without a dependable goalkeeper anchoring it.
That is why Trafford sits at the top of their list. An England international, proven in a high-pressure environment at Manchester City, yet young enough to grow with the project at Elland Road. If Leeds can get this one over the line, it will not just plug a gap. It will define the character of their new-look team.
