Leeds United unveil James Trafford on five-year deal after £40m club-record switch | OneFootball

Leeds United have unveiled James Trafford as their third summer signing, the goalkeeper joining from Manchester City for a club-record £40m.

The 23-year-old has signed a five-year contract, making him the most expensive British goalkeeper to date. According to Leeds Live, he arrives as Daniel Farke’s new number one, with Lucas Perri expected to join Torino on loan with an option to buy.

Trafford sought a move after limited minutes at City and the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma, with new boss and former academy coach Enzo Maresca keeping the Italian as his number one.

He follows free agent Harry Wilson and £34m defender Tarik Muharemovic, taking United’s spend beyond £74m, with over £20m raised from selling Pascal Struijk, Isaac Schmidt and Jack Harrison.

Perri, nursing a small knock, cost £13.9m last summer to be Leeds’ long-term number one but was dropped in January, with Karl Darlow taking over before leaving for Manchester United.

If Perri leaves, Leeds will seek a number two before the 1 September deadline, and are also expected to target a back-up left-back, a striker and a number 10. To satisfy new Squad Cost Ratio rules they need further sales, with Joe Gelhardt set to be sold amid Championship interest including Hull City.

Freiburg enquired about Wilfried Gnonto in May with little progress since. Joel Piroe, who started only two Premier League games last season, wants to stay this summer.

Source: Leeds Live

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