Leeds United pushed the board and paid a club-record fee to sign James Trafford from Manchester City in the last summer transfer window.
Daniel Farke needed a top-class number one goalkeeper in the last window, and the Leeds boss later admitted that he was desperate to sign the 23-year-old England goalkeeper.
Trafford has been brilliant between the sticks for Leeds since his arrival, providing the consistency and calmness the Whites lacked last season.
He has also played for England during the break and is now widely expected to replace Jordan Pickford as the Three Lions number one before the European Championship in 2028.
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James Trafford reveals his major surprise since joining Leeds
The 23-year-old goalkeeper’s performances between the sticks have not surprised anyone who has followed his career over the last few years.
However, Trafford has revealed that one thing has really surprised him about the Whites since he joined the club in the summer.
He conceded he wasn’t aware of the level of support Leeds enjoyed and didn’t expect to see so many Whites fans, even outside the city.
The Leeds goalkeeper stressed that he ends up spotting Leeds fans all over the country and admitted he was surprised.
“How many Leeds shirts? I mean, Leeds fans are everywhere”, Trafford said on Sky Sports.
“Everyone seems to be a Leeds fan, and not just in Leeds.
“I am from West Cumbria, and I didn’t know there were so many Leeds fans in West Cumbria.
“I was on holiday, and when I was at the airport, I saw so many in Leeds tops.”
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He has been a huge upgrade between the sticks for Leeds
Leeds signed Lucas Perri last year as their long-term solution in goal. However, the Brazilian was out of the team midway through the 2025/26 season.
Karl Darlow provided a calmer, steadier presence in the latter half of last season, but Leeds knew they needed to sign a new goalkeeper.
Trafford has been a major upgrade over both Perri and Darlow, and he has looked a class apart in goal since he joined the club in the summer.
He has already made more saves than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League in the first five games, and his ability on the ball has added another dimension to the Leeds team.
Darlow joined Manchester United on a free transfer, and Perri moved to Torino on loan, but Trafford has ensured no one at Leeds is missing either of the two goalkeepers.
