'Win the day' - James Trafford explains how he has dealt with 'very up and down' season at Man City that saw him lose No.1 spot to Gianluigi Donnarumma
A Challenging Campaign for James Trafford
Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford has admitted that his return to the Etihad Stadium has not resulted in the "best possible outcome" after a challenging campaign. Despite starting the season as Pep Guardiola's first choice, the 23-year-old was displaced by the deadline-day arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma and has since been restricted to cup appearances.
Trafford's Season in Perspective
Trafford's second spell at Manchester City has proved to be a significant test of character after a promising start to the 2025-26 campaign. Having rejoined the club from Burnley in the summer following a stellar Championship season, the England international featured in Manchester City's first three Premier League fixtures.
- Trafford started the 2025-26 season as Pep Guardiola's first-choice goalkeeper.
- He was displaced by Gianluigi Donnarumma after the Italian goalkeeper's deadline-day arrival.
- Trafford has since been restricted to cup appearances for Manchester City.
"Win the day" - James Trafford
Maintaining a Positive Mindset
The landscape changed dramatically when Manchester City opted to sign Italy captain Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain, relegating Trafford to the bench for top-flight matches.
