Revealed: Manchester City man spoke ‘enthusiastically’ with Newcastle players and Alan Shearer over transfer | OneFootball

A new report looking back on events of last summer around James Trafford has revealed how the Englishman spoke ‘enthusiastically’ about a move to the North-East.

The summer of 2025 proved pivotal in shaping the current trajectory of Trafford’s career, with the goalkeeper ultimately returning to City despite strong indications that his future lay elsewhere.

As Manchester City assessed their long-term goalkeeping options, and Ederson ultimately departed the club alongside Scott Carson and Marcus Bettinelli’s arrival as third choice, Trafford’s situation became one of the more intriguing subplots of the transfer window.

At the time, Trafford was always expected to leave Burnley, with several Premier League clubs monitoring his availability. A move away from Turf Moor appeared inevitable, but the destination was far from certain as negotiations unfolded across June and July.

Trafford would eventually re-join Manchester City in a reported £27 million deal – a decision that saw him return to the Etihad Stadium with the promise of opportunity and perhaps even becoming the No.1 choice between the sticks under Pep Guardiola.

But now, according to the information of The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, James Trafford had spent ‘all of June and a good chunk of July’ in 2025 telling people he was joining Newcastle United, in what had become an open secret in football.

While on holiday in Ibiza, Trafford is said to have been ‘enthusiastically’ talking to several people – including current Newcastle players and former St James’ Park captain and club legend Alan Shearer – about the impending transfer and his excitement over a move.

As for the viewpoint within Newcastle, it is reported that the club felt they had a verbal agreement on personal terms with the player, thus only needing a fee to be agreed with Burnley to complete the transfer.

However, those talks were not easy or straightforward, and as Newcastle moved ‘slowly’, the club’s former sporting director Paul Mitchell did not want to pay more than £25 million, while Burnley were left annoyed and quoted a price of £35 million.

Unfortunately for those in the North-East, by the time Newcastle had reached a compromise of £27 million in mid-July – which would have included Martin Dubravka joining Burnley as part of the deal – Manchester City were operating in the background, it is reported.

Instead of heading to St James’ Park, James Trafford returned to Manchester City and began the 2025/26 season as Pep Guardiola’s first-choice goalkeeper, starting the opening Premier League fixtures.

But that role shifted following the late-August arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain, resulting in Trafford assuming responsibilities primarily in domestic cup competitions in a back-up role.

Despite limited league minutes, Trafford has featured regularly in knockout football and has played a central role in Manchester City’s progression to the 2026 Carabao Cup Final against Arsenal, including two semi-final appearances against Newcastle United.

His performances have drawn plenty of praise from Pep Guardiola, particularly for his professionalism and readiness despite a reduced role. And while Trafford has acknowledged the season has not unfolded as he initially anticipated, the revelation of last summer’s near-move adds fresh context to an ongoing situation that may yet prompt renewed interest.