Leeds United have secured the signing of goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City in a deal that could reach £45m, setting a new record for a British goalkeeper transfer.

The fee surpasses the £30m Everton paid Sunderland for Jordan Pickford in 2017, and places Trafford among the most expensive goalkeepers in history — behind only Kepa Arrizabalaga (£68m) and Alisson (£62m). Combined with the £27m City paid to bring him back from Burnley last summer, more than £80m in initial fees has now been spent on the 23-year-old.

City retain a sell-on clause

According to BBC Sport, Manchester City will hold a 20% sell-on clause as part of the agreement, along with matching rights — meaning City will receive first refusal if a future offer for Trafford is matched.

Trafford arrives at Elland Road following the departures of Karl Darlow and Illan Meslier this summer. Lucas Perri and Alex Cairns remain at the club, though Perri lost his starting place to Darlow in the second half of last season and did not feature after a 4-3 defeat by Newcastle on 7 January.

Limited City minutes but a big future

Despite making just 17 appearances for Manchester City last season — four of them in the Premier League — Trafford contributed to the club's Carabao Cup and FA Cup winning campaigns. His path to becoming City's first-choice goalkeeper was effectively closed when Champions League-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma arrived in September.

Trafford was also part of England's World Cup squad this summer, though he did not feature in any match.

Leeds manager Daniel Farke appears ready to invest in Trafford's long-term potential. The goalkeeper's most impressive performances came during his time with Burnley, where he made 45 Championship appearances, conceded just 16 goals, kept 29 clean sheets, and posted an 84.47% save ratio — numbers that were central to Burnley's promotion back to the Premier League in 2024-25.

Former Burnley manager Scott Parker once described Trafford as world class, and it is that pedigree at Turf Moor that Farke and Leeds are paying a premium to acquire.

Trafford began his career at Manchester City before loan spells at Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers. He joined Burnley in 2023 and made 73 appearances for the Clarets before City exercised their buy-back option last summer.