James Trafford has joined Manchester City from Burnley in a deal the newly-promoted Premier League side say is a record fee for a British goalkeeper.
City will pay £27m, but the deal is worth £31m.
City had a matching clause inserted when they sold Trafford to Burnley in 2023.
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Watch some of Trafford’s best saves from Burnley’s promotion-winning 24/25 season
Newcastle agreed a £31m fee with Burnley last week, which City matched.
However, City also had a sell-on clause inserted – meaning their outlay totals £27m.
The previous record for a British keeper was worth £30m when Everton signed Jordan Pickford from Sunderland.
Trafford has signed a five-year deal with the option of an extra year and will compete with Ederson for the No 1 shirt under Pep Guardiola.
Stefan Ortega, who started 13 games in the Premier League last season, is expected to leave the club, but an exit is not close to being agreed.
Sky Sports News understands Burnley hold an interest in the player.
‘I always dreamed of returning to Man City’
Trafford’s return to Man City fulfils a dream he had of going back to his former club.
The England U21 goalkeeper said: “Rejoining City is such a special and proud moment both for me and my family. I always dreamed that one day I would be able to come back to Manchester City.
“This is the place I call home – it’s a truly special football club with fantastic people who make it such a unique place to work and play.
“I am also very excited and honoured to have been given the opportunity to work under Pep and with such a world-class group of players.
“I am still very young and hungry to keep learning and improving – and I know there is no better environment than Manchester City to help make me become the best goalkeeper I can be.
“I also cannot wait to play in front of the amazing City fans for the first time and will do everything I can to help this great club look to achieve even more success.”
Trafford joined City’s academy in 2015, but after loans at Accrington and Bolton, the need for regular first-team football – with Ederson still the man to displace at the Etihad Stadium – took him to Turf Moor.
“When I had the opportunity to go to Burnley I thought it was the right step for me in that moment and in the long-term it was to achieve to come back here. I’m happy that I’ve achieved it,” he added.
Trafford, who will wear the number one shirt, becomes the club’s sixth signing of the summer after Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, Marcus Bettinelli, Rayan Cherki and Sverre Nypan.
City’s sporting director Hugo Viana said: “James is already one of the most accomplished young goalkeepers in the English game, and we are delighted to welcome him back to Manchester City.
“We feel he is an ideal fit for this squad and will bring great quality to the goalkeeping department.
“We fully believe he will be really successful and a top goalkeeper for Manchester City and the national team.
“I also have no doubt that working with Pep and the technical staff here at City will only see James further develop his abilities.”
In
Tijjani Reijnders – AC Milan, £46.3m
Rayan Ait Nouri – Wolves, £36.3m
Marcus Bettinelli – Chelsea, undisclosed
Rayan Cherki – Lyon, £34m
Sverre Nypan – Rosenborg, £12.5m
James Trafford – Burnley, £31m
Out
Kevin De Bruyne – released, Napoli
Jacob Wright – Norwich, undisclosed
Scott Carson – released
Kyle Walker – Burnley, £5m
Divin Mubama – Stoke City, loan
Maximo Perrone – Como, loan
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And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games next season are on Sky Sports.
