How Leeds made ‘awesome’ James Trafford the Premier League’s best goalkeeper

Talk to anyone about England goalkeeper James Trafford and the soundbites are always the same. “Awesome potential… laid-back character… how long before he’s England’s No 1?” Well, three months into his Leeds United career and the club-record signing is proving money well spent. Daniel Farke’s side lie seventh and Trafford’s six goals conceded means only champions Arsenal have a better defensive record after eight games. The imposing Cumbrian arrived from Manchester City in August for a fee that could rise to £45m, a new record for a British goalkeeper and a benchmark of Leeds’ ambition. At 6ft 6in, Trafford is a giant of a man, albeit a fairly laconic one. But his self-assuredness, touch of arrogance perhaps, and natural talent are combining to solve what has been a problem position at Elland Road in recent years. “It’s been a good start from James and he’s clearly someone who Leeds’ defenders have confidence in,” ex-Leeds and England goalkeeper Nigel Martyn tells The i Paper. “They know they have someone behind them who they can trust to do his job and make the saves he needs to make. “You don’t see James shouting and bawling and that helps your team-mates to relax and rely on you. He’s very level-headed and I haven’t seen any mistakes from him yet. I’d maybe like him to clear the ball a bit quicker when he’s getting closed down, but he seems so laid-back and at ease with himself that it’s probably best to just let him get on with it.”The 24-year-old has a save percentage this season of 83.3 per cent, the highest of any goalkeeper in the Premier League, and insiders say he has quickly settled in West Yorkshire. Trafford lives close to Leeds’ training ground near Wetherby – handy for his frequent trips back home to the family farm near Cockermouth – and has struck up a bromance with team-mate and fellow goalkeeping union member Alex Cairns. Family matters to Trafford as Martyn, who now represents England Over 60s at cricket, explains: “I met James and his parents at Elland Road when he signed here in the summer. You could see what a tight-knit family they are and that’s clearly very important to him.” Former Leeds manager Simon Grayson believes Trafford’s character has boosted the form of his fellow summer arrivals, too. “When I speak to people around the club, they say Trafford just loves being at Leeds United and is a good personality in the dressing room,” he told The i Paper. “Tarik Muharemovic and Nico Elvedi also joined this summer and have thrived playing in front of him in Leeds’ defence. Trafford penned a five-year deal this summer (Photo: Getty) “Elvedi has been great and Muharemovic looks an unbelievable player, so those relationships can go a long way towards making a season successful.” Trafford’s career stalled after he returned to Manchester City from Burnley in July 2025, only for Gianluigi Donnarumma to arrive and take the No 1 spot weeks later. He played his part in City’s successes in lifting the Carabao and FA Cup last term, but he needed regular first-team football. Moving to Leeds, upwardly mobile again, was too good to turn down and Farke reveals: “I was desperate to sign James, and not just this summer. I tried before because I was fully convinced of his qualities as a goalkeeper and a human being. “You need this mentality because there’s big pressure and big competition when you play for a big club like Leeds. He’s relaxed and it helps as a goalkeeper if you have a bit of natural arrogance in a positive way. Natural self-confidence is perhaps a better word to describe it, and this is what James says. “With his aura, and body language, you could feel that he knows this, and he’s bloody good! I didn’t have to persuade him to come here, I just spoke about what we want to do, and I got the feeling he was quickly sold. In James’ first few months with us, he’s shown that he can handle the pressure and expectations from Leeds supporters. That’s why they love him already.” During the recent four-game block of Nations League matches, Thomas Tuchel gave Trafford and Everton’s Jordan Pickford two games apiece. It was recognition of Trafford’s fine start at Leeds and raised the prospect of him usurping Pickford as England’s No 1. Trafford has four England caps compared to Pickford’s 93 but the battle between them looks set to intensify. Martyn played 23 times for England but often played second fiddle to Arsenal legend David Seaman.“Tuchel giving them two games each recently was interesting because I know myself how difficult it can be with just 45 minutes here or a friendly there,” he reasoned. Read more Pete Blackburn – Nottingham Forest’s January transfer plans – and why Glasner is safe Kevin Garside – Jim Ratcliffe has been exposed as a chancer who will never fix Man Utd “I probably had a game or two when Dave was injured and did okay, but I always knew he was going to come back in. “I always thought my job was to put him under pressure with my performances in the Premier League every week… but then David kept playing well unfortunately! What James has to do, though, is to keep performing for Leeds and take any opportunities with England. “That would put pressure on Jordan, who’s still playing very well and moving to an age where he’s probably going to be his most consistent and my early thirties were certainly my peak time. Jordan will probably stay as No 1 for now and I know James won’t want to hear that – but he’s clearly on a very good path at Leeds so long may it continue.”