James Trafford says he left Man City for his 'mental wellbeing'

Trafford explains his summer move to Leeds was driven by mental health concerns after limited playing time at City following Donnarumma's arrival.

James Trafford has revealed that his decision to join Leeds United in the summer was motivated by his mental wellbeing after struggling with a lack of game time at Manchester City. The goalkeeper returned to City in summer 2025 following his spell at Burnley but found his hopes of becoming the club's number one ended when Gianluigi Donnarumma arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in the same transfer window.

Trafford started City's opening three Premier League matches but was relegated to second choice after Donnarumma's deadline-day arrival. He made just one more league appearance in the 35 matches that followed, appearing only in cup competitions under Pep Guardiola. Despite the limited league action, Trafford played a significant role in City's cup successes, starting in both the Carabao Cup final victory against Arsenal and the FA Cup final win over Chelsea.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Trafford described the experience of not playing regularly as "horrendous" and explained that he needed to play every week for his mental health and career progression. He completed a £45m move to Leeds after representing England at the World Cup as backup to Jordan Pickford. Reflecting on his time at City, Trafford acknowledged the difficulty of the period but expressed gratitude for winning two trophies and the experience gained.