Man City confirm James Trafford signing: How £27m goalkeeper compares to Ederson, Stefan Ortega

Manchester City have announced the signing of goalkeeper James Trafford from newly-promoted Premier League side Burnley.

The 22-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-year contract until June 2030 and the Citizens academy graduate returns to the club where he spent eight years on the books between 2015 and 2023, before joining the Clarets for around £15m two years ago.

Trafford was heavily linked with a move to Newcastle United, who had agreed a £27m fee with Burnley last week, but Man City have triggered a matching clause to re-sign the shot-stopper for the same price.

Man City have handed Trafford the No.1 shirt and he is set to battle Ederson and Stefan Ortega for starts between the sticks under Pep Guardiola, though the latter is reportedly expected to leave this summer.

Trafford becomes the Citizens’ sixth signing of the summer transfer window after Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Marcus Bettinelli and Sverre Nypan.

Welcome back, Traff! ? pic.twitter.com/XiVA3P8hAL

— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 29, 2025

Trafford completes 'dream' return to Man City 

“Rejoining City is such special and proud moment both for me and my family,” Trafford told the club’s official website. “I always dreamed that one day I would be able to come back to Manchester City.

“This is the place I call home - it’s a truly special football club with fantastic people who make it such a unique place to work and play.

“I am also so very excited and honoured to have been given the opportunity to work under Pep and with such a world-class group of players.

“I am still very young and hungry to keep learning and improving - and I know there is no better environment than Manchester City to help make me become the best goalkeeper I can be.

“I also cannot wait to play in front of the amazing City fans for the first time and will do everything I can to help this great club look to achieve even more success.”

Director of Football Hugo Viana added: “James is already one of the most accomplished young goalkeepers in the English game, and we are delighted to welcome him back to Manchester City. 

“He has all the attributes a top-class goalkeeper requires. We feel he is an ideal fit for this squad and will bring great quality to the goalkeeping department. 

“We fully believe he will be really successful and a top goalkeeper for Manchester City and the national team.

“I also have no doubt that working with Pep and the technical staff here at City will only see James further develop his abilities.”

James Trafford returns to City! ? pic.twitter.com/3aANdYihks

— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 29, 2025

How Trafford compares to Ederson and Ortega

After honing his craft between the sticks on loan at Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers, Trafford elevated his game to new heights at Burnley and he particularly excelled last season to help Burnley secure automatic promotion from the Championship with 100 points.

Trafford conceded just 16 league goals and won the Golden Glove after keeping 29 clean sheets in 45 matches, equalling the record for shutouts by a goalkeeper in a single season in English football. The Carlisle-born shot-stopper also set a new Championship record of 12 consecutive clean sheets between December and February.

Trafford arrives at Man City with a lack of top-flight experience, though, and endured a difficult baptism in the Premier League under former Clarets boss Vincent Kompany in 2023-24, keeping just two clean sheets and conceding 61 goals in 28 matches at a rate of 2.18 per game before being dropped for the final 10 fixtures of the season.

However, taking data provided by Opta from the 2024-25 season, Trafford’s first-class shot-stopping ability is unquestionable, as he recorded a save percentage of 84.47%, an impressive figure that greatly exceeds the numbers posted by both Ederson (67.09) and Ortega (64.71), though the Citizens duo were predominantly facing superior opposition in the Premier League.

Trafford (6ft 6in) is also taller than Ederson (6ft 2in) and Ortega (6ft 1in), but distribution - passing accuracy in particular - is one aspect of his game that will need to improve if he wishes to force his way into Guardiola’s side, as his 70.34% passing accuracy is comfortably lower than that of both Ederson (86.26%) and Ortega (79.4%).

Trafford’s average is lower partly because of Burnley’s decision to pump the ball forward more frequently last season, averaging 55 long passes per game compared to Man City's 36 in the top flight, while both Ederson and Ortega are also considered more proficient with the ball at their feet.