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Leeds unveil James Trafford as contract length confirmed upon £40m transfer

· Isaac Johnson · 2026-08-06 · nguồn gốc

Leeds United have formally unveiled James Trafford as their third signing of the summer, the goalkeeper arriving from Manchester City for a club record £40million, plus bonuses. The 23-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-year deal, having completed his medical this week, making him the most expensive British goalkeeper to date. Trafford arrives as Daniel Farke’s new number one, with Lucas Perri expected to complete a loan move to Torino shortly. Trafford was always likely to move this summer after being unsettled with his minutes at Manchester City, where he arrived in the expectation he would be the first choice until Gianluigi Donnarumma was captured. With the ‘keeper holding hopes of becoming the future England number one, Trafford’s hunt for new suitors intensified after learning that new Man City boss and former academy coach Enzo Maresca was to keep Donnarumma as his number one. Trafford’s arrival follows that of free agent Harry Wilson and £34m defender Tarik Muharemovic. United’s spend has now eclipsed £74m this window, with just over £20m received in sales of Pascal Struijk, Isaac Schmidt and Jack Harrison. Torino have meanwhile been keen on landing Perri for some time. The Italian club - who play their first game of the season a week on Saturday, in the Coppa Italia - are lining up a loan move with an option to buy clause attached. Perri - who is currently nursing a small knock - was acquired for £13.9m last summer in the hope that he would be Leeds’ long-term number one. However, he was dropped in January due to poor performances with Karl Darlow taking over as no.1. Darlow left for Manchester United upon the end of his contract this summer, having not been guaranteed the number one jersey. Illan Meslier’s prior departure at the end of his deal meant the goalkeeper department was cut in half. Perri’s likely forthcoming exit means Leeds will have to hunt for a new number two before the transfer window closes on September 1. They are also expected to search for a new back-up left-back and striker, as well as a number 10. Leeds will need to sanction more sales to create the headspace they need to acquire all targets under the new Squad Cost Ratio rules. Joe Gelhardt is set to be sold, with Championship clubs submitting enquiries while Hull City remain interested. Freiburg submitted an enquiry for Wilfried Gnonto in May but it appears little has advanced beyond that since. Joel Piroe - who started just two Premier League games last season - has meanwhile stated he wishes to stay at the club this summer.