James Trafford says lack of games at Manchester City affected his wellbeing
The Leeds United goalkeeper said regular football became a priority after a season largely spent outside City's Premier League lineup.
James Trafford has told BBC Sport that his limited playing opportunities at Manchester City affected his mental wellbeing, prompting him to seek regular football at Leeds United. The England goalkeeper said being out of the team left him frustrated and turning to family and friends for support.
Trafford returned to City after two years at Burnley, but Gianluigi Donnarumma's arrival on transfer deadline day disrupted his ambitions to become first choice. He made no Premier League appearances between the end of August and his start against Aston Villa in City's final league fixture.
Despite those difficulties, Trafford said he valued the experience, citing his development and two trophies. He helped City win both domestic cups during Pep Guardiola's final season in charge, keeping four clean sheets across six EFL Cup appearances and three across six FA Cup matches.
Since joining Leeds, Trafford has established himself as the club's first-choice Premier League goalkeeper, with three clean sheets from nine league games. He is set to face Tottenham Hotspur before joining Thomas Tuchel's England squad, where he remains in competition with Jordan Pickford for the starting role.
