Manchester City has secured a new deal, securing their goalkeeper position after the apparent decline of Ederson and Stefan Ortega last season.
According to The Athletic, City has activated the buy-back clause in goalkeeper James Trafford’s contract with Burnley, bringing the 22-year-old back to the Etihad Stadium.
Burnley bought Trafford last summer for £12 million, and City bought him back this summer for £27 million. The signing of the goalkeeper effectively cost the Blues just £13 million.
City’s current plan is to make Trafford their first-choice goalkeeper for the new season, with one of the duo, Ederson or Ortega, likely to leave. The German is currently the most likely to leave Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Trafford is currently considered one of the most promising young goalkeepers in the world and has been a key factor in Burnley’s return to the Premier League, making him a great signing for City.
Trafford began his youth career at City and has been loaned out to Accrington and Bolton Wanderers, as well as Burnley. He is set to sign a five-year contract with the Citizens, with the option to extend for a further year.
Trafford will be City’s sixth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Tijani Reinders, Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Saphire Neban, along with third-choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli.
