James Trafford completes Leeds medical as club-record move nears | OneFootball

James Trafford has completed his Leeds United medical ahead of a prospective club-record move.

According to Leeds Live, the 23-year-old is set to join after Leeds and Manchester City agreed a £40 million-plus package. He would be the third summer signing after Harry Wilson and Tarik Muharmekovic, who cost £34 million between them.

Trafford is due to become Daniel Farke’s first-choice goalkeeper. His move could trigger a loan exit for 2025 recruit Lucas Perri to Torino, which would prompt Leeds to source a new back-up, with Alex Cairns expected to be third choice.

Karl Darlow has left for Manchester United as a free agent this summer, while Illan Meslier has joined Arsenal after his contract expired.

At Manchester City, Trafford learned that new head coach and former academy mentor Enzo Maresca was set to retain Gianluigi Donnarumma as number one, so he sought a new club after being unsettled by a back-up role last season.

Although no guarantees were given, he had assumed he would be City’s number one when re-signing from Burnley last summer, before Donnarumma became available.

Trafford wants to succeed Jordan Pickford as England’s number one and knows regular minutes are vital. He has two senior caps. He is currently on a mandated 21-day post-season break after the World Cup, which ends on Saturday when Leeds host RB Leipzig in a friendly at Elland Road.

Source: Leeds Live

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”