"For My Own Mental Well-Being" - James Trafford Explains 'Horrendous' Feeling Culminating in Manchester City Exit

"For My Own Mental Well-Being" - James Trafford Explains 'Horrendous' Feeling Culminating in Manchester City Exit Man City bosses signed Gianluigi Donnarumma last summer a month after completing a deal for James Trafford. Following his respective loan spells at Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers from City, the 24-year-old goalkeeper joined Burnley in an initial £15 million deal, potentially rising to £19 million, depending on the achievement of performance-related and success-based add-ons. Manchester City have also included a 20 percent sell-on clause in the deal, along with a buy-back option. Trafford then returned to City on a five-year contract for £27 million in July 2025 and received the number one shirt after spending two seasons at Burnley. After starting in each of City's first three Premier League games last season, the Englishman was largely seen on the bench following the last-minute signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma in September 2025. As the Italian shot-stopper quickly established himself as Manchester City’s first-choice goalkeeper, Trafford's minutes on the pitch were mostly restricted to cup competitions, and he made only one further start in the top flight, concluding the 2025-26 campaign with 17 appearances across all competitions. In conversation with Football Daily's The Football Interview , Trafford opened up about the toll on his mental health that came with falling behind on Pep Guardiola’s pecking order and being on the sidelines. "What a horrendous, horrendous feeling - not playing," the goalkeeper said, as quoted by  BBC Sport . "You are ringing a lot of people and just venting. "Like most people, you have a [bad] day at work and you ring someone up. I ring my dad, I ring my mum, I ring my missus, I ring my mates. I like ringing my mates and we can just have a good talk about it all. It's quite funny.” Trafford further explained his decision to part ways with his boyhood club and join Leeds United in search of regular game time. "I had to play regularly this season for my own mental wellbeing," the Englishman added. "You just lose yourself not playing. Maybe I'm different, I don't know, but the feeling of not playing every week, it felt horrendous. “I just had to play every week this season for that mental feel-good and to keep progressing with my career and edging me closer to achieving the dreams I want to achieve." Looking back, I'm very thankful for the experience: Trafford reflects on Man City return Despite his limited time on the pitch and an individually unfulfilling end to his Manchester City tenure, Trafford expressed gratitude for the growth and experiences he had last season. The former Burnley star spoke about his contributions in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, where he started in both finals at Wembley and lifted silverware. Trafford said: "Going into any season, I always have the highest of hopes and always the belief that it will go the best way it could. Unfortunately, we didn't win all four trophies. It didn't go how I expected it to go, but it happens. "In the moment, I just tried to make the best of it as I could. Looking back, I don't think it was a disappointing season in the end because I learned so much, I improved so much and I won two trophies in one year. "There were moments when I was very down, regretting things and feeling disappointed, but looking back, I'm very thankful for the experience. What an incredible year." Trafford's lifelong England number one ambition Trafford was named in England's squad by head coach Thomas Tuchel for the 2026 World Cup, and while he was unable to earn an international cap, the shot-stopper was thankful for the experience. "I didn't play, but it is what it is. I didn't expect to play when I got called up. I knew what my role was, but you just take as much experience as possible, learn from it and keep trying to win the day, because the more days you win, the better position you're in," he said. The City graduate mentioned that he aims to become England’s first-choice goalkeeper in the upcoming years and believes that is achievable by being regular and impressive at the club level. "It's my aim and it's something I've always dreamed of. I always believe that one day I could be. Every day I try to keep improving to put myself in the best position to be England's number one one day.” Since his arrival at Elland Road from Manchester City in August on a five-year contract, Trafford has maintained six clean sheets and conceded eight goals in 12 appearances across all competitions for Leeds United .