Trafford opens up on 'horrendous' time at Man City before Leeds exit
James Trafford has spoken publicly for the first time about how difficult his second spell at Manchester City became, revealing that not playing regularly left him in a dark place and ultimately pushed him towards a summer move to Leeds United.
talkSPORT (talkSPORT) reports that Trafford described leaving City this summer as being for the sake of his mental wellbeing, having sealed what was supposed to be a dream return to the Etihad in 2025. BBC Sport (BBC Sport) echoes this, saying the goalkeeper called his lack of game time "horrendous" and felt he had no choice but to leave and join Leeds United.
The Sun (The Sun) adds further detail to the picture, reporting that the 24-year-old had returned to City in 2025 on the back of two excellent seasons out on loan at Burnley, only for life back at the Etihad to turn into what the paper calls a "hellish" experience. The Sun (The Sun) also includes Trafford's own words that it got to the point where he was "ringing people and venting" about his situation.
All three outlets are united on the core story: Trafford's struggle to get minutes between the posts at City weighed heavily on him, and that was the driving factor behind his exit to Elland Road this summer. There's no disagreement between talkSPORT (talkSPORT), BBC Sport (BBC Sport) and The Sun (The Sun) on the basic facts, with each framing it as a player being honest about a tough chapter in his career rather than any suggestion of ill feeling towards the club itself.
For City fans, it's a reminder of the strength in depth and competition for places at the club, even if it came at a personal cost for a player many had hoped would establish himself as a long-term option in goal. Trafford's return from Burnley had been seen as exciting business, so hearing just how hard he found the reality of life behind City's senior goalkeeping options will be sobering reading, even as he now looks to rebuild his career and confidence at Leeds.
Written with the help of AI, using the headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.
