Manchester City will soon bring James Trafford back to the club and the goalkeeper’s next decision is an easy one.
James Trafford is set to become Manchester City’s sixth signing of the summer transfer after choosing a return to the Etihad Stadium over Newcastle United.
Trafford had seemed destined to join Newcastle but the Magpies’ incompetence in the market this summer opened the door for City to swoop in.
The Blues hold a buy-back clause in Trafford’s contract after selling him to Burnley in 2023. Though valued at £40m, it also gave City the right to match any offer the Clarets received for Trafford.
Newcastle did have a £27m bid accepted but City have chosen to match it and Trafford prefers to sign for Pep Guardiola.
With Ederson also set to stay, City fans are delighted with the signing, which follows the arrivals of Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait Nour, Marcus Bettinelli and Sverre Nypan.
With Trafford’s return all but set in stone, he now has to pick his shirt number. It should be an easy choice.
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James Trafford’s new squad number is simple for Man City
City might have a big squad with a lot of coveted numbers already taken, but a huge one is available for Trafford.
The No.1 has been vacant at City for five years now, with Claudio Bravo the last goalkeeper to don the shirt in 2020.
Given the digit is the quintessential goalkeeper number, it’s strange that City haven’t had one for so long.
Instead, Ederson has No.31, Stefan Ortega No.18 and Scott Carson was No.33 before his exit earlier this summer.
Bettinelli was signed as his replacement, and the former Chelsea man was assigned No.13, leaving No.1 free for Trafford to claim.
Joe Hart, Shay Given, Andreas Isaksson, David James, David Seaman and Peter Schmeichel are the last goalkeepers to wear it before Bravo.
Available squad numbers at Manchester City
Though it seems obvious that Trafford will take No.1, especially since it was his number at Burnley, City’s developing tradition of not using the number and the fact that he might not be first choice over Ederson could make him choose a different one.
Here are the numbers still available at City, though some are unlikely to be picked by a shot-stopper:
- 2
- 12
- 15
- 17
- 28
- 32
- 33
That doesn’t leave an awful lot of options for Trafford aside from No.1.
The No.19 he wore during a successful loan spell at Bolton Wanderers might have appealed, but it’s taken by Ilkay Gundogan.
Trafford was assigned No.85 when he was last at City, but that choice seems unlikely.
