Trafford says need for regular football and wellbeing drove Leeds move

James Trafford says the need to play regularly for his mental wellbeing was central to his summer move from Manchester City to Leeds United. In a BBC Sport interview reported by The Independent and Sports Mole on Saturday, the goalkeeper described the personal difficulty of spending much of last season outside City's Premier League starting team.

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Trafford returned to City in summer 2025 after two years at Burnley, having previously developed in the Manchester club's academy. He started the opening three league matches, but Gianluigi Donnarumma's arrival from Paris Saint-Germain changed his position. The Independent reported that Trafford made only one further league appearance across the remaining 35 fixtures, against Aston Villa on the final day.

The goalkeeper said the absence of weekly football left him struggling and prompted frequent conversations with his parents, partner and friends. As Sports Mole reported, he explained that regular appearances mattered both to how he felt and to his ambitions for his career. His decision to leave followed a season in which opportunities in the league were scarce, even though he remained involved in cup competitions.

Those competitions brought significant success. The Independent reported that Trafford started City's League Cup final victory over Arsenal and FA Cup final win against Chelsea at Wembley. Sports Mole recorded four clean sheets in six League Cup appearances and another three in six FA Cup matches, giving him a substantial role in both trophy-winning campaigns despite his limited league involvement.

Trafford did not dismiss the year as wasted. In comments carried by Sports Mole, he said the season had failed to match his initial expectations, but that he had learned and improved considerably. Although there were periods of disappointment and regret, he said he now appreciated the experience and the chance to win two trophies in a single year.

His summer also included a place in Thomas Tuchel's England World Cup squad as cover for Jordan Pickford, The Independent reported. He subsequently joined Leeds. By Saturday morning, Sports Mole reported that he had kept three clean sheets in Leeds' opening nine Premier League matches, having secured the regular first-team role he had sought.