Manchester: Speaking on JioHotstar, James Trafford shared what it means to return to Manchester City:
“It’s brilliant for me. Since I joined at 12, playing for Man City has always been one of my goals. Even when my path took me elsewhere—on loan at 18 or moving to Burnley at 20—I always believed I’d come back. I’ve worked hard to make this moment happen.”
On his journey to Manchester City:
“I always believed that I’d play for City, and I knew that the only person who could make that happen was me. I always trusted that I’d reach this moment. Now that I’m here, I just have to keep going.”
On his experiences in the lower leagues:
“Accrington (Accrington Stanley FC) was brilliant. It was the polar opposite to when I was here. I went from the Champions League final to Accrington within two or three weeks, and the club environments were very different. Accrington was important for me during the 11 games I played, and then I went to Bolton, where I really got my feet under the table. I lived every day and developed a lot.”
He also described himself as a goalkeeper:
“As a goalkeeper, I am aggressive. I want to win and do everything I can to achieve that, whether it is making saves or contributing in any other way. My main focus is simply to win.”
On Burnley’s (his former club) defensive record and the season as a whole:
“The season overall was amazing. The group, the manager, and the staff were brilliant. While the records are impressive, the main goal was promotion, and everyone played their part in achieving that.”
On the experiences he gained during his time away from Manchester City:
“Throughout my time away from the club, I have had a variety of experiences. I experienced relegation with Burnley, achieved promotion, and had the playoff push with Bolton. These experiences have prepared me well, and nothing will come as a surprise to me.”
On his unique journey as an academy player progressing through the system:
“I always believed this moment would come. Everyone’s journey is different, but I am proud of myself for achieving this because I always believed it would happen.”
On the Manchester City squad:
“They are one of the best teams in the world and the most successful team over the last 10 years. I am really excited about this opportunity. I saw McAtee (James McAtee) on Friday and I can’t wait to get to work with all the lads and improve myself.”
He also spoke about working with Ederson and how he has inspired his game:
“When he first joined, he was extremely talented and one of a kind with the ball at his feet. I looked up to him a lot when I first trained with him at 17, and I tried to take small parts of his game to improve my own. I am excited to work with all the goalkeepers, push each other, and continue improving.”
On the success of the Manchester City’s EDS (Elite Development Squad) and his old teammates:
“It is great to see how well everyone is doing. We had such a strong team that year, and we are all really pleased for each other. Many of us are now in the national team at the U21 and senior levels. It is brilliant to see each other and reminisce about the good times.”
On his short-term and long-term ambitions at Manchester City:
“I do not think too far ahead. I want to work as hard as I can every day, improve, and see where it takes me.”
He also shared his message for the Manchester City fans:
“I cannot wait to see all of you. The last time I saw you was during COVID, and at the Champions League final, there were not many fans due to the allocation. I look forward to seeing everyone and bringing success to the club.”
