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]
In January 2025, he saved two penalties in a league match against Sunderland, [36] [37] being praised by manager Scott Parker as a "special" player. [38] Having not conceded a goal across any of their six matches in the month, he was named EFL Championship Player of the Month. [39]
By February 2025, Trafford had gone 1,000 minutes without conceding a goal. [40]
