It has been a long couple of weeks for Leeds United. The club have finally sealed a deal for England star James Trafford.
Talks with Manchester City had been going on for weeks, with fans unclear of when the keeper would join.
Leeds had him as a target early in the window, and waited to make a move after the World Cup ended. Then they pounced and made their approach, Trafford was convinced by the project and accepted the move.
The 49ers ended up paying a club record fee of £40 million to get his signature.
Now the Whites can plan for the future, knowing that they have a star goalkeeper for the long term.
Champions League club join race for Leeds United star
There has been an exit at Elland Road that has been brewing for weeks now.
Leeds United goalkeeper Lucas Perri has been in advanced talks with Italian side Torino. However, the Whites were unwilling to sanction a deal until James Trafford arrived.
Now that the England international is here, Perri is set to move to the Serie A side.
News this week has revealed that details are being finalized, with Torino signing the Brazilian on loan with an option to buy. Wednesday’s Tuttosport print edition added that some final details are to be discussed, including a potential sell-on clause.
But Lucas Perri is expected in Turin to finalize his deal and have a medical.
Nelle ultimissime ore il Marsiglia si è informato sulla situazione di Lucas Perri, portiere del Leeds che è vicinissimo al Torino ma non ha ancora firmato.
— Matteo Moretto (@MatteMoretto) August 12, 2026
A new development has emerged concerning this move. Journalist Matteo Moretto has reported that French club Marseille have made enquiries about Perri in the last few hours.
He is close to joining Torino, but nothing has been confirmed yet. This will be an interesting situation to keep an eye on.
READ MORE: Leeds United demand key clause before sanctioning star’s exit
What happens next?
Regardless of what happens in the next few hours, Lucas Perri will not be a Leeds United player.
He is already on his way to joining Italian side Torino, who have been in contact for the last few weeks. The Serie A club have been waiting to seal this deal since the James Trafford transfer began.
Now that Marseille have made enquiries, the only thing that could change is Perri’s destination.
He could move to France instead of Italy, depending on what offer is presented. No one knows the transfer Marseille would want; ultimately Leeds could sell the Brazilian permanently if the opportunity arises.
The 49ers are already working on a backup goalkeeper as soon as Trafford arrived, so the club will be okay going forward.
I guess a part exchange deal involving Igor Paixao is out of the question then Kwadwo?