Why James Trafford's use of 'fun' and 'energy' are such big words for Leeds United — Yorkshire Post 7/8/26

By Stuart Rayner

MAYBE the message was muffled by how long it took to come out, but Leeds United signing James Trafford was a big statement.

The second album is always a tricky one for clubs new to the Premier League, striking a balance behind trying to take the next step and over-stretching.

Leeds have decided to go big.

A fee that could stretch to £45m, breaking Leeds' transfer record and the British milestone for a goalkeeper, was too rich for the “richest club in the world”. Newcastle United backed away and bought £25.7m Lukas Hornicek instead.

It took a while as Manchester City sourced a replacement, but finally on Thursday, word came through that the contracts had been signed.

First of all, on the back of the departure of two goalkeepers – Karl Darlow and Illan Meslier – and the hope of offloading another (Lucas Perri), it was a big relief.

But on the back of £34m Tarik Muharemovic and Harry Wilson – a free transfer, but one of the Premier League's best attacking talents outside last season’s elite – it also shows Leeds are not messing around.

Last summer was about putting a new, Premier League squad together, this one about a few big, targeted signings. The work is not done – they still look a quality centre-forward and a back-up left wing-back light at the very least – but landing Trafford sent out a statement.

The 23-year-old may only have 32 Premier League and no Champions League appearances to his name but he is seen as England's next No 1 whenever Jordan Pickford's powers start to wane.

He kept six clean sheets and saved a penalty in the final as England won the 2023 European Under-21 Championship, and at Burnley was part of the historically good defensive unit which meant 100 points was only enough for Leeds to win the 2024-25 Championship on goal difference. He has winner's medals from this year’s FA and League Cup finals.

He can play a bit, with hands and feet.

Other exciting young players have moved for huge fees and flopped, so it is too early to judge if Leeds have ended the uncertainty around their goalkeeping position that has lingered for at least a couple of years, but what we can say with real certainty is it shows the lure of the club.

A lot of that is down to manager Daniel Farke and his players, but a lot too comes from terraces now in the slow, careful process of expanding, cutting capacity for Saturday's friendly with RB Leipzig, but not the competitive matches to come.

It may only be three letters long, but "fun" was a big word for Trafford to use on the day he signed. You would imagine it will be rolled out to other prospective signings with options elsewhere in the next three-and-a-half weeks.

"I'd say it's the energy and just the whole passion of the club and the fans," says Trafford, unwittingly a marketing manager's dream for sponsors Red Bull as he speaks to the club’s website.

"The energy of just the team, the players and the fans go a long way to contributing to results and performances and improving.

"As a promoted team it's tough – I have experience (on loan at Burnley) – to stay up and the league's a better place for Leeds being in it, just for the way they want to play and just who they are as a club, the history they have."

Trafford has watched Leeds lose in each of the last two seasons, but on both occasions it left a positive impression.

"I competed against Leeds very closely two seasons ago in the Championship and playing against them they were obviously a very strong team," he says.

"It was great fun that day (when Burnley won at Elland Road, thanks in no small part to their goalkeeper).

"It was just very, very good fun that game, with how up for it the fans were. The fans were just really involved and it was a great game.”

It was at half-time to Trafford's Manchester City in November that Leeds' 2025-26 really kicked on, a switch to a back three providing a blueprint more positive than the stoppage-time 3-2 defeat was negative.

"Last season I remember seeing them at the Etihad (as a substitute) and from that second half onwards they were incredible, the energy, the physicality, the directness is fun to watch and very effective."

But this season is about what next. Even with the manager wisely cautioning this is likely to be another relegation battle, his three years of work, the new signings, the diggers at work give a really positive feel.

"They want to take the club to where it's been historically and I think everyone where believes that's going to happen," says Trafford. "They were clear in what they want and full belief it's going to happen.

"When you get better as time goes on it shows something's going well and you're sticking to a good process so you've just got to keep on that same trajectory."

At the moment it is just vibes. But vibes matter when you are trying to sign better players.