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€30m Man City summer signing to make Championship move after horror start
Tom Weber
- Updated: 23 Sept 2025 20:20 BST
- 4 min read
News
Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford could drop down to the Championship again after his horror start to life back at the Etihad, according to a report.
The England youth international returned to Man City in a €31.2 million move after initially looking set to join Newcastle. The allure of being the No.1 at his boyhood club proved irresistible.
Little did he know, however, that his dream return would quickly turn into a nightmare. Despite coming off a record-breaking season with Burnley, Trafford looked anything but assured between the sticks for City.
Current ETV
James Trafford
GK
Man City
James Trafford
GK
Man City
ETV Range
€26.4M - €32.3M
Things went from bad to worse for the 22-year-old when the Cityzens also brought in PSG superstar Gianluigi Donnarumma, who immediately assumed the starting role.
Trafford's second stint at City has started inauspiciously, and it seems that the young shot-stopper is already mulling over a quick exit from the club in the upcoming window.
Trafford to return to the Championship?
According to TEAMtalk, Trafford is facing an 'uncertain future' at the Etihad and a loan exit in January has become a 'realistic possibility.' Intriguingly, the two clubs credited with an interest in him are both in the Championship.
Given that the youngster also struggled at Burnley when they were in the top flight, there is perhaps an awareness that he still has to continue his development in the second tier before being able to make it big in the Premier League.
The report claims that Leicester and Southampton are eyeing a January move for the 22-year-old. Both, of course, lost their starting goalkeepers, Mads Hermansen and Aaron Ramsdale, over the summer.
The Foxes replaced Hermansen with former Real Betis shot-stopper Fran Vieites, who joined on a free transfer, while the Saints only brought in George Long from Norwich as backup to Gavin Bazunu, who has reclaimed the No.1 position after a tough year.
Trafford wants to catch the eye of Thomas Tuchel before next year's World Cup and, in order to do that, he obviously needs to play. A January exit could therefore be a shrewd decision.
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