Leeds-bound: Trafford's City exit takes shape

James Trafford is on his way out of the Etihad Stadium for the second time. Leeds United have agreed a deal worth £40 million plus bonuses for the England international, one year on from City triggering the buy-back clause in his Burnley contract.

The 23-year-old joined City for £27 million last summer but never dislodged Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was Pep Guardiola's undisputed number one. With Enzo Maresca now in charge, the pathway to regular football looked no clearer, and Trafford pushed for a move. Elland Road won out over interest from Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Tottenham.

Leeds needed a goalkeeper badly. Karl Darlow left for Manchester United, Illan Meslier joined Arsenal. Trafford walks into that void.

The numbers

David Ornstein of The Athletic broke the story that the deal is being finalised. Mail Sport's Simon Jones adds that the £40 million includes £5 million in add-ons. City paid £27 million to bring Trafford back from Burnley 12 months ago, so the initial £40 million represents a modest but meaningful return on a short-term investment.

There's also a sell-on clause. City will take a percentage of any future profit if Leeds sell Trafford onward — a reflection of how highly the club still rate a player they consider one of the finest young goalkeepers in English football.

What next for City's goalkeeping department?

Director of football Hugo Viana has identified Donnarumma as the long-term number one and was open to selling Trafford. With the Italian firmly established, Marcus Bettinelli provides experienced cover. Oliver Whatmuff continues his development as the club's long-term domestic prospect after an extraordinary loan at Rochdale.

Whether Viana moves for another senior goalkeeper before the window closes, or trusts this group across four competitions, remains the outstanding question.

For Trafford, Leeds means first-team football at the highest level — a platform to remind England's management that the goalkeeper who featured at the World Cup in North America can still perform at the top of the domestic game.