For more than a year, Newcastle United had been working persistently behind the scenes to bring James Trafford to the Tyneside with an aim of making young goalkeeper long-term solution between the posts.
Trafford had the profile Eddie Howe wanted- composed on the ball, proven under pressure, and hungry for a new challenge.
The club reportedly even reached personal terms with him twice, once in 2024 and again this summer, thinking each time that the deal was on the verge of completion.
Speaking on Fozcast, Trafford admitted how close he was to joining the Magpies.
“In the summer I think people knew I wanted to move. The club I was close to joining, it was brilliant for me. I really believed in it,” he said.
“I wanted to move, not just because I didn’t want to play in the Championship, I had no shame playing in the Championship.”
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“I have no ego to think I’m better than the Championship. You only prove something by performing and showing people. You can say whatever you want but unless you perform.”
“It was just when an opportunity and a situation you think suits you can happen, you should take it and you should try and go for it, so I wanted to move. It was close but it didn’t end up happening.”
Trafford remained at Burnley last season and played every match in the Championship under Scott Parker.
He kept 29 clean sheets and conceded just 16 goals, helping Lancashire based side secure promotion back to the Premier League.
Yet despite the success, he didn’t travel with the squad to Portugal for pre-season this month, instead training alone in Bolton and posted a cryptic Instagram message from a gym in Bolton that read: “On a mission.” That message, it turns out, may not have been about joining Newcastle after all.
Newcastle United target James Trafford close in on Manchester City move
Fabrizio Romano reported on X, “Understand Trafford has accepted to return to Man City if the two clubs will reach an agreement, he’s keen on the move.
#MCFC in talks with Burnley to reduce £40m [$53m] buy back clause + deal still depends on GK exit.”
City originally sold Trafford to Burnley in 2023 for £19m [$25m] but included a £40m buy-back clause and a 20 percent sell-on clause.
The eight-time Premier League champions are now trying to bring him back at a lower fee, possibly by adding performance-related bonuses or future incentives to the deal.
The move, however, is not fully completed yet and hinges on whether either Ederson or Stefan Ortega leaves the club in the coming weeks with Galatasaray understood to be preparing an offer for Ederson, while Ortega has interest from clubs that can offer a guaranteed No. 1 role next season.
If either departs, City are expected to accelerate the deal for Trafford.
