Manchester City confirm James Trafford shirt number left vacant for five years | OneFootball

James Trafford will become the first Manchester City player to adopt the No.1 shirt at the Etihad Stadium in five years, after he re-joined the club this week.

The 22-year-old sealed his return to the Etihad Stadium after two seasons at Burnley, having risen through the ranks at Manchester City’s academy and earned admirers for his performances both domestically and internationally.

His homecoming not only signals City’s desire to further reinforce their goalkeeping options amid uncertainty around Ederson’s longer-term future, but also revives a shirt steeped in history and symbolism for the club.

Trafford’s re-emergence has been carefully managed by Manchester City and while he is not immediately expected to displace Ederson, the Carlisle-born goalkeeper’s development trajectory has convinced the club that he is a long-term investment worth backing.

His calmness in possession and command of the penalty area are viewed as ideal fits for Pep Guardiola’s tactical demands, and now the assignment of his shirt number is more than just symbolic.

With Ederson and Stefan Ortega’s respective contracts entering their final 12 months, Trafford’s reintroduction suggests Manchester City are proactively planning for a future transition that could see the Englishman take on the first-choice spot from next season.

Now, as confirmed by Manchester City this week, the returning goalkeeper – who is expected to become the club’s new back-up choice shot-stopper initially – will take on the club’s iconic No.1 shirt.

The jersey has been vacant for the past five years, with Ederson wearing No.31 since 2017, Stefan Ortega taking on the No.18 shirt in 2022, and Marcus Bettinelli selecting the No.13 earlier this summer after joining from Chelsea.

Trafford becomes Manchester City’s first No.1 since Claudio Bravo between 2016 and 2020, with previous holders of the jersey including the likes of Joe Hart, Shay Given, David James, David Seaman, Peter Schmeichel, and Nicky Weaver.

Legendary figures such as Alex Williams, Joe Corrigan, Bert Trautmann, and Frank Swift have also worn the No.1 shirt in the past for Manchester City, giving plenty for James Trafford to live up to during his new stint at the Etihad Stadium.

Should Ederson remain for the season as currently anticipated, Trafford is likely to feature in domestic cup competitions and selected fixtures across the expanded calendar, especially given UEFA Champions League commitments.

Internally, there is a belief that James Trafford can comfortably become Manchester City’s long-term No.1 between the posts under Pep Guardiola and beyond, and the allocation of such a shirt number is just the beginning of that journey.

His assignment also speaks to the confidence Guardiola and the backroom team have in his development. And with the club already integrating several other young talents – such as Oscar Bobb, Vitor Reis, and Claudio Echeverri – into the senior environment, Trafford’s re-signing represents another strategic step in building for the next era.