Leeds United sign James Trafford for £40m from Manchester City

Leeds United have reached an agreement with Manchester City to sign 23‑year‑old goalkeeper James Trafford for an initial £40 million fee with add‑ons that could raise the total to about £45 million. The deal follows the club’s need for a long‑term first‑choice keeper after Karl Darlow’s departure, and comes as Manchester City have moved Darlow to Manchester United and retained Donnarumma as their primary goalkeeper.

The transfer, reported by multiple outlets, underscores the inflated market for young talent this summer and gives Leeds a potential successor to their previous backup, while Manchester City look to off‑load a player who had limited first‑team opportunities. Additional rumors linked to other goalkeepers, such as Gerónimo Rulli, were mentioned but the primary transaction is the Leeds‑Trafford move.