Leeds United goalkeeper James Trafford is in “pole position” to become England’s next number one, and his £45m move to Elland Road was the right call for his career. That is the double verdict of former Newcastle United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, delivered on Tuesday as the Whites prepared for their Carabao Cup trip to Chelsea.
Hislop, who played more than 200 games in the Premier League, was speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post in association with Gambler Media.
Why Hislop backs the Leeds United move
Trafford arrived at Elland Road from Manchester City in the summer as the most expensive signing of a seven-deal window, having lost his place at the Etihad following the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma. Hislop’s reading is that the 23-year-old had no realistic alternative.
“Listen, I think James Trafford proved himself to be a good goalkeeper. Then goes to City expecting to play, and then all of a sudden, Donnarumma becomes available,” Hislop said.
“James Trafford is not a Gigi Donnarumma. I still think right now, Donnarumma’s one of the best goalkeepers in world football, so you understand why those opportunities became less for James Trafford and why a move was needed just for him to get minutes.
“So, I do understand the move to Leeds, and I think it was the right thing for him because, again, I don’t think he would have seen any meaningful time behind Donnarumma.”
The James Trafford England question
The second prediction is the one that will interest supporters most. Hislop is clear that Jordan Pickford remains England’s undisputed first choice, but believes the queue behind him now begins with the Leeds keeper.
“Jordan Pickford is the unquestioned number one for England, but Trafford, right now, is in pole position to succeed him,” he said.
Hislop’s reasoning was less about minutes played than supply: he went on to point out how few English goalkeepers are playing regularly at the top level, which narrows the field considerably for anyone in Trafford’s position who is starting every week in the Premier League.
What the first month at Leeds says
The early evidence is encouraging without being conclusive. Leeds are unbeaten in all four competitive games this season, sitting on five Premier League points from three matches after a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest — Anton Stach’s free-kick — and 1-1 draws with Brentford at Elland Road and Brighton at the Amex, where Jayden Bogle scored before Luka Vuskovic levelled from a corner.
That is a clean sheet at the City Ground and two goals conceded in the two draws, in front of a rebuilt back line featuring new centre-halves. For a club that spent the past few seasons unsettled between the posts, and that let Illan Meslier go on a free at the end of his contract, it is the sort of start that justifies the outlay. The full story of how Leeds got their man is in our James Trafford profile.
A word of caution, all the same. Pundit predictions are predictions, not selections, and Trafford has played four competitive games in a white shirt. The England conversation will be settled by a season, not a month.
What’s next for Trafford and Leeds
Attention turns to Stamford Bridge, where Leeds face Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday night. Daniel Farke has been open about wanting a run in the competition, which makes his selection at the back an interesting call: rest the £45m goalkeeper in a cup tie, or keep the rhythm going.
Farke is already without Joe Rodon, who the YEP report could face up to 10 weeks out with a hamstring injury, while Daniel James faces a late fitness test. Melvin Bard and Jean-Matteo Bahoya are still waiting on their debuts. Our Leeds United team news for the Chelsea tie has the rest of it.
Whatever Farke decides, Trafford has begun his Leeds career with his stock rising rather than falling — and that, for a goalkeeper who had to leave a title-chasing squad to find a game, is the whole point of the move.
