Manchester City agrees £27m deal to re-sign goalkeeper James Trafford from Burnley

Manchester City have secured the return of goalkeeper James Trafford from Burnley for a £27 million fee, matching an offer from Newcastle United due to a buy-back clause included in his previous transfer. Trafford, who began his career in City's academy, impressed last season by keeping a record 29 clean sheets and playing a key role in Burnley's Championship promotion. He has agreed to a five-year contract and will compete with Ederson for the first-choice goalkeeper position, while Stefan Ortega is expected to leave the club. Newcastle, despite a strong interest and a bid, missed out on the signing as Trafford opted to return to Manchester City. The transfer reflects City's strategic planning to refresh their goalkeeping ranks under Pep Guardiola, while also beating Premier League rivals including Manchester United, who had also shown interest in Trafford. Trafford's strong Championship performance and potential have made him a highly coveted player among top English clubs this summer.