Leeds agree £40m club record deal for James Trafford, as Britain’s priciest keeper seeks first-team spotlight

Leeds agree £40m club record deal for James Trafford, as Britain’s priciest keeper seeks first-team spotlightLeeds United have agreed a deal to sign James Trafford from Manchester City for an initial fee of £40million.

>The deal is a club record fee for Leeds and will make Trafford the most expensive British goalkeeper ever for a second time, surpassing his £31m move to Manchester City last summer.

>Trafford has been keen to leave the Etihad after struggling for first-team football last season. Having signed amid an expectation that he would be Pep Guardiola's number one, the subsequent signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain restricted him to a back-up role.

>Leeds United have now won the race to sign the 23-year-old, despite competition fromPremier League rivals, including Newcastle United.

>Trafford made 17 appearances in all competitions last season, though only four in thePremier League. However, he did play a prominent part in City's FA Cup and League Cup double, starting both finals.

>The Athletic are reporting that the transfer fee is £40m 'plus bonuses' and is close to being finalised. He is set to become Leeds' third signing of what is emerging as an impressive summer of recruitment, following the arrivals of Sassuolo centre-back Tarik Muharemovic and Fulham free agent Harry Wilson.