James Trafford

About

James Harrington Trafford (born 10 October 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Leeds United and the England national team.

Trafford was born in Cockermouth, Cumbria, and grew up in the nearby village of Greysouthen in a farming family. He was a Chelsea fan. He attended Cockermouth School and St Bede’s College. He learned to drive on a tractor and in his early career he would return to help out on the family farm in the off-season.

Trafford began his career with Cockermouth and Carlisle United, signing with Manchester City in August 2015 at the age of 12. At Carlisle he began as a midfielder but volunteered to become a goalkeeper at age nine. He was part of the Manchester City Under-18s team that won the 2019–20 Professional U18 Development League and the Under-23s team that won the 2020–21 Professional U23 Development League.
He moved on loan to Accrington Stanley in July 2021. This loan was later described as “challenging” due to injuries and losing his first-team place.

Trafford signed on loan for Bolton Wanderers on 13 January 2022, until the end…