James Trafford

James Trafford

Personal information
Full name	James Harrington Trafford [1]
Date of birth	(2002-10-10) 10 October 2002 (age 21) [2]
Height	6 ft 6 in (1.97 m) [2]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Burnley
Number	1
Youth career
	Cockermouth
	Carlisle United
2015–2021	Manchester City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2023	Manchester City	0	(0)
2021–2022	→ Accrington Stanley (loan)	11	(0)
2022	→ Bolton Wanderers (loan)	22	(0)
2022–2023	→ Bolton Wanderers (loan)	45	(0)
2023–	Burnley	28	(0)
International career‡
2018–2019	England U17	7	(0)
2019	England U18	2	(0)
2019	England U19	1	(0)
2021–2022	England U20	5	(0)
2022–	England U21	17	(0)
Medal record Representing   England UEFA European Under-21 Championship Winner 2023
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:59, 10 March 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:43, 24 March 2024 (UTC)

James Harrington Trafford (born 10 October 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Burnley. ^[3]

Early life

Trafford grew up in Greysouthen in a farming family. ^[4] He was a Chelsea fan. ^[4] He attended Cockermouth School and St Bede's College. ^[4] He learned to drive on a tractor ^[5] and in his early career he would return to help out on the family farm in the off-season. ^[6]

Club career

Manchester City

Trafford began his career with Cockermouth and Carlisle United, signing with Manchester City in August 2015 at the age of 12. ^[4] At Carlisle he began as a midfielder but volunteered to become a goalkeeper at age nine. ^[6]

He moved on loan to Accrington Stanley in July 2021. ^[7] This loan was later described as "challenging" due to injuries and losing his first-team place. ^[6]

Trafford signed on loan for Bolton Wanderers on 13 January 2022, until the end of the 2021–22 season. ^[8] He kept four clean sheets in his first four games, the first time a goalkeeper had done so in Bolton's entire history. ^{[9] [10] [5]}

On 15 June 2022, Trafford rejoined Bolton on loan for a further season. ^{[11] [12]} In July 2022, he signed a new five year contract with Manchester City. ^[13] By October he was noted for his clean sheets, ^[14] and Trafford broke Bolton's record for consecutive home clean sheets on 4 February, with the 1–0 win over Cheltenham Town being his eighth in a row. ^{[15] [16] [17]} He was able to extend the record to nine, ^{[18] [5]} though was unable to have it reach double figures as on 25 February he conceded against Port Vale in a 2–1 win, the first time since 2 December. ^[19] On 2 April, he started in the 2023 EFL Trophy final and kept a clean sheet in 4–0 win against Plymouth Argyle. ^[20] Trafford's clean sheet in a 1–0 win against Shrewbury Town on 22 April was his 25th of the season, which broke the record for the most clean sheets by a Bolton goalkeeper in one season. ^{[21] [22]} He finished the season with a total of 26 clean sheets. ^[5] He helped Bolton qualify for the play-offs, though they were defeated by Barnsley in the semi-finals. ^[23] He was voted as Bolton's Young Player of the Year for the 2022–23 season, together with Conor Bradley. ^{[24] [25]} His performances during the season saw him named in the PFA Team of the Year for League One. ^[26] He said his time at Bolton turned him from a "long, skinny boy" into a "long, skinny man". ^[27]

Burnley

On 3 July 2023, it was announced that a £15 million transfer fee had been agreed between Manchester City and Burnley for Trafford. ^[28] With add-ons, the deal could reach a total of £19 million — which if met would break Burnley's transfer record. ^[5] On 20 July 2023, Trafford's move to Burnley was officially completed. ^{[29] [30]} Due to their sell-on clause, Carlisle United got 15% of the fee for around £2.25m. ^[31] He became the third most expensive British goalkeeper in history. ^[32]

He made his Burnley and Premier League debut on 11 August 2023, in a 3–0 home defeat to his former club Manchester City. ^[33] He earned high praise after Man of the Match performance in a 1–1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on 9 December in which he made 10 saves. ^{[34] [35]}

International career

Trafford played his first international match of his career for England U17 on 24 March 2018 against Croatia U17 in which he saved a penalty and kept a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw despite England being down to ten men. ^[36] He made a further six appearances for the U17 including one appearance at the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, then played twice for England U18, and once for England U19. ^[37]

On 6 September 2021, Trafford made his debut for the England U20s during a 6–1 victory over Romania U20s at St. George's Park. ^[38]

On 25 May 2022, Trafford received his first call up to the England U21 squad ahead of the final round of 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches. ^[39] Trafford made his debut in the 5–0 win away to Kosovo. ^[40]

On 14 June 2023, Trafford was included in the England squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. ^[41] He did not concede a goal during the tournament in six matches, ^[5] the first time a goalkeeper had done this in the tournament's history, ^[42] and saved a stoppage-time penalty and its rebound in the final against Spain as England won the game 1–0. ^[43] His mentality was praised by England under-21 manager Lee Carsley. ^[44] It was later reported that Trafford had told friends that he would save a penalty that game. ^[32]

Following an injury to Sam Johnstone in March 2024, Trafford received his first call up to the senior squad for a friendly against Belgium. ^{[45] [46]}

Style of play

He spent his early career as an outfield player. ^[4] At Carlisle he began as a midfielder but volunteered to become a goalkeeper at age 9. ^[6] He has been praised for his reflexes and distribution. ^[47] He is noted for his ability to get clean sheets, breaking multiple records with Bolton Wanderers ^{[14] [5] [15] [21]} and winning the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship without conceding a goal. ^{[5] [43] [42]}

Career statistics

As of match played 10 March 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Manchester City U23	2020–21 [48]	—			—		—		2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	2	0
Manchester City	2021–22 [49]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2022–23 [50]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Accrington Stanley (loan)	2021–22 [49]	League One	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	0
Bolton Wanderers (loan)	2021–22 [49]	League One	22	0	—		—		—		22	0
Bolton Wanderers (loan)	2022–23 [50]	League One	45	0	1	0	0	0	6 [lower-alpha 2]	0	52	0
Burnley	2023–24 [51]	Premier League	28	0	0	0	0	0	—		28	0
Career total			106	0	1	0	0	0	8	0	115	0

1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
2. Four appearances in the EFL Trophy, two appearances in the play-offs

Honours

Bolton Wanderers

• EFL Trophy: 2022–23 ^[20]

England U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2023 ^[52]

Individual

• Bolton Wanderers Young Player of the Year: 2022–23 (shared) ^[24]
• UEFA European Under-21 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2023 ^[53]
• PFA Team of the Year: 2022–23 League One ^[26]

References

1. "EFL – Squad List 2021/22" (PDF). English English Football League. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
2. "James Trafford". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
3. James Trafford at Soccerway
4. "James, 12, signs for mega-rich Man City". Times and Star. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
5. "From farm to final - England's future number one?" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
6. Fisher, Ben (4 July 2023). "James Trafford is the rising star with designs on being England's No 1" – via The Guardian.
7. "Accrington sign Mumbongo and Trafford". BBC Sport.
8. "James Trafford: Bolton Wanderers sign Manchester City goalkeeper". BBC Sport.
9. "'I'm just a farm boy at heart' – Wanderers keeper Trafford on his rural roots". The Bolton News.
10. "'REPORT: Wanderers 2 Cambridge Utd 0". Bolton Wanderers Official Website.
11. "Trafford Back For More". Bolton Wanderers Official Website.
12. "Trafford rejoins Bolton on loan from Man City". BBC Sport.
13. McDougall, John (16 July 2022). "Man City goalkeeper on League One return over Championship loan". Manchester Evening News.
14. McDougall, John (12 October 2022). "Bolton goalkeeper Trafford's impressive clean sheet haul & League One standings". Manchester Evening News.
15. "Trafford: Record Is A Group Effort". www.bwfc.co.uk.
16. "Cumbrian goalkeeper helps club break record". News and Star.
17. Brown, Dan (4 February 2023). "Man City goalkeeping pecking order might be set to change". Manchester Evening News.
18. "Bolton Wanderers 5-0 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport.
19. "Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Port Vale". BBC Sport.
20. Pilnick, Brent (2 April 2023). "Bolton Wanderers 4–0 Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
21. Marc, Iles (23 April 2023). "Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Shrewsbury Town - Marc Iles's big match verdict". The Bolton News.
22. Marc, Iles (30 April 2023). "Liverpool teen Conor Bradley wins hat-trick of Bolton Wanderers awards". The Bolton News.
23. "Barnsley edge past Bolton to reach play-off final" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
24. "Bradley Is Season Star". Bolton Wanderers. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
25. Iles, Marc (30 April 2023). "'We're not finished yet!' Prize guy Conor wants more glory in the play-offs". The Bolton News. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
26. "Erling Haaland: Manchester City forward wins PFA men's Player of the Year award". BBC Sport. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
27. "James Trafford's thank-you message to Wanderers after play-off heroics". The Bolton News. 15 May 2023.
28. "Burnley agree £15m deal for Man City's Trafford" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
29. "CLARETS CAPTURE TRAFFORD". Burnley Football Club. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
30. "Burnley sign Man City's Trafford in £19m deal" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
31. "Report makes claim about Carlisle United cash from keeper transfer". News and Star. 17 July 2023.
32. "James Trafford: Man City youth product and U21 penalty hero is a future England No 1 who can shine at Burnley". Sky Sports.
33. "Cumbrian keeper makes Premier League debut against Haaland and City". News and Star. 12 August 2023.
34. "Brighton 1-1 Burnley: James Trafford's late heroics earn relegation-threatened visitors crucial point". Sky Sports.
35. "Vincent Kompany's immediate reaction to Burnley's draw at Brighton & James Trafford's solo display".
36. Association, The Football. "Drama in Denmark as ten-men England held to a draw by Croatia in Euro qualifying". www.thefa.com.
37. "James Trafford » Internationals". worldfootball.net.
38. "Six at SGP for MU20s". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
39. "Lee Carsley has made his pick for Young Lions' four games in June as they target MU21 EURO qualification". EnglandFootball.com. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
40. "Match report: Kosovo 0–5 England MU21s". EnglandFootball.com. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
41. "England MU21s squad named for EURO Finals". EnglandFootball.com. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
42. Howell, Alex (8 July 2023). "England U21 1–0 Spain U21: England win Under-21 Euros for first time in 39 years". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
43. Athletic, The (8 July 2023). "England vs Spain live updates". The Athletic. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
44. "Trafford has 'top mentality' to succeed - Carsley" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
45. Walker, Andy (24 March 2024). "England squad update: Rico Lewis and James Trafford join seniors". England Football. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
46. "England's Walker & Maguire ruled out of Belgium game" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
47. Froston, Nancy. "Rapid reflexes and pin-point distribution can take Bolton's City loanee Trafford to the top". The Athletic.
48. "Games played by James Trafford in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
49. "Games played by James Trafford in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
50. "Games played by James Trafford in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
51. "Games played by James Trafford in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
52. Howell, Alex (8 July 2023). "England beat Spain to win Euro U21 Championship". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
53. "2023 Under-21 EURO Team of the Tournament". UEFA.com. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.

External links

• Profile at the Burnley F.C. website
• James Trafford – UEFA competition record ( archive )