Pep Guardiola has expressed his full confidence that James Trafford will one day become England No1, even though the young goalkeeper has had limited playing opportunities since returning to Manchester City. The City manager revealed that he has held private talks with the 23-year-old about his current situation and assured him that his future remains bright.
The James Trafford England No1 discussion comes after the goalkeeper turned down a summer move to Newcastle United to rejoin Manchester City in a £27 million deal, just two years after leaving the Etihad for Burnley. However, Trafford’s return has not gone as smoothly as expected. Only five weeks after arriving, City brought in Italy international Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain for £26 million — a move that pushed Trafford to second choice in Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Since then, Donnarumma has started nine of City’s ten matches, leaving Trafford with only 360 minutes of football this season. Yet, Guardiola believes that patience will pay off, and the young keeper has the talent and mentality to reach the top.
“For England, sooner or later, he will be the one,” Guardiola said confidently about Trafford, who has been part of every England squad since Thomas Tuchel took charge as national team head coach.
Guardiola praises Trafford’s attitude and development
Despite his limited playing time, James Trafford England No1 ambitions have not gone unnoticed by Guardiola, who praised the goalkeeper’s professionalism and commitment in training.
“Goalkeepers are in a special situation,” Guardiola explained. “Normally one plays, and the other has to wait. But James has shown incredible attitude. We are delighted with his behaviour every single day. We want him to stay ready, because he will get his chances in competitions like the Carabao Cup, where we need everyone.”
The Spaniard added that Trafford and Donnarumma have built a strong working relationship, constantly pushing each other to improve. “We have an incredible goalkeeper, and I’m sure Gigi learns from James and James learns from Gigi. They are always connected.”
Guardiola also revealed that he has spoken privately with Trafford and other fringe players about their reduced minutes this season, offering reassurance about their roles in the squad.
James Trafford’s journey and England ambitions
Trafford’s rise has been remarkable. Before his Manchester City return, he was the standout performer for England’s Under-21s, playing a vital role in their 2023 European Championship triumph, where he kept six clean sheets — including a heroic penalty save in the final.
His consistency continued last season with Burnley, where he was a key part of Vincent Kompany’s promotion-winning team that recorded 29 clean sheets in the Sky Bet Championship. Those performances fueled his dream of becoming James Trafford England No1, and Guardiola believes that trajectory has not changed despite his current challenges.
“James has the mentality, calmness, and work ethic needed to be England’s main goalkeeper,” a City insider said. “He trains like a starter even when he’s not playing.”
Carabao Cup opportunity for Trafford and others
The Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Swansea City will provide a much-needed chance for Trafford to get back on the pitch. Guardiola confirmed that James Trafford will start in goal, giving him the opportunity to show why he’s still regarded as one of England’s brightest goalkeeping prospects.
Alongside Trafford, Rayan Ait-Nouri is also expected to feature after recovering from an ankle injury, while Abdukodir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush, and Rayan Cherki are in line for minutes as well. Guardiola views the competition as an essential platform to keep all his players sharp, especially those outside the regular starting lineup.
Meanwhile, Rodri remains sidelined with a hamstring issue, and Erling Haaland is set to be rested. Kalvin Phillips may feature from the bench, while Mateo Kovacic will be given more playing time to regain match fitness after injury.
Patience and promise
While James Trafford England No1 dreams are currently on hold, his long-term prospects remain intact. Guardiola has a strong track record of nurturing goalkeepers — from Ederson’s evolution to Donnarumma’s adaptation — and he believes Trafford will benefit from training alongside elite talent every day.
For Manchester City, Trafford represents both the future of their goalkeeping department and a potential key figure for England’s next generation. Guardiola’s words suggest that while the wait may be frustrating, Trafford’s time will come.
“He’s young, but he’s got everything,” Guardiola concluded. “England will have their new No1 very soon — and it could be James.”
