Credit: Imago
Credit: Imago
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Exclusive: James Trafford has already chosen his next club between Aston Villa and Newcastle

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

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James Trafford is prioritising a move to Aston Villa over Newcastle United this summer, sources have told Football Insider.

Both Premier League clubs hold a strong interest in the goalkeeper, who has spent the majority of the season on the bench at Man City.

Sources close to Trafford say that the England youth international's current stance is that he prefers a move to work under Unai Emery at Villa, who will likely be able to offer Champions League football.

The 23-year-old returned to the Etihad Stadium last season after his boyhood club triggered a clause to sign him from Burnley in a deal worth around £27million.

Trafford had arrived with the expectation that he would be the number one, but the signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma came weeks later and would see the Englishman dropped to the bench.

Gianluigi Donnarumma celebrating in a Man City goalkeeper shirt
Donnarumma joined Man City in the summer (Credit: Imago)

James Trafford to pursue Man City exit

Newcastle have been interested in Trafford for many years, after goalkeeper impressed at Burnley.

The Clarets bought the England youth international in a deal worth up to £19m in 2023, and he struggled in his first Premier League season.

James TraffordChampionship 2024-25
Appearances45
Goals conceded16
Clean sheets29
Penalties saved 2/2
Save percentage84.6%
Goals prevented 12.9

Last season in the Championship, however, Trafford played a key part in a staggering defensive effort that saw Burnley achieve automatic promotion by keeping 30 clean sheets and conceding just 16 goals.

Trafford appeared in 45 of the 46 games and kept 29 of the clean sheets, attracting huge interest from the Premier League.

Newcastle agreed a fee worth around £31m, but were hijacked when Man City matched the fee using the matching rights clause inserted in the contract that the goalkeeper signed in 2023.

The Magpies signed Aaron Ramsdale on loan instead, and less than a year on, Trafford is already keen to take the next step in his career.

What did Trafford say about his future?

Trafford has admitted that he had no idea that Man City would sign Donnarumma, and to be fair, decision-makers at the Etihad Stadium likely did not either.

The Italian's availability was quite sudden, but the Citizens jumped at the chance to sign a world-class shot stopper.

Speaking to BBC Sport after featuring against Salford City in the FA Cup last week, he said: "Yeah they're obviously nice [Cup appearances].

"It wasn't what I expected coming into the season, and I tried to guard against this situation happening, but it's the reality, and I know every time I play that I've got to give it my best shot.

"Try to win and try to improve, so that's the current situation I'm in."

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Newcastle United
Aston Villa
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