Two qualities back up £27m Man City transfer move amid 'really strange scenario'

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James Trafford impressed on his City debut in the win over Wolves

James Trafford of Manchester City (Image: 2025 Getty Images)

James Trafford's physical and mental development during his time away from Man City made his return to the club an excellent transfer decision.

That is the view of former City goalkeeper Joe Hart, who feels his arrival only makes Pep Guardiola's side 'stronger', even if he has arrived into a 'strange scenario' at the Etihad Stadium.

Trafford re-joined City for £27million having spent the last two seasons at Burnley. Having struggled in his first season in the Premier League, he bounced back with an impressive campaign in the Championship last term, helping the Clarets to promotion.

He has since been promoted to the England senior setup, having excelled at under-21 level, and many feel he could be City and England's number one in the not too distant future.

Trafford made his City debut in Saturday's 4-0 win over Wolves and looked calm and assured between the posts, leaving Hart mightily impressed.

"He is a lovely kid and he has such a hunger for it," Hart told Match of the Day. "What I love about his career is that he decided to make a move to Burnley. It was a big money move for a 20-year-old.

"It was a difficult season to go into Burnley. Vinny Kompany trying to play out, they were in the bottom three virtually the whole season.

"But he kept strong, he kept brave, he could have gone somewhere else but he didn't and I just think he has developed so much physically and mentally.

"City had a buyback clause and knew what he was capable of and knew what his potential was. They borrowed him out to Burnley, bought him back at a decent price and it only makes them stronger."

Nonetheless, despite the money spent to bring him back to Eastlands, Trafford isn't guaranteed to be the number one goalkeeper.

Ederson missed the weekend trip with gastroenteritis but Guardiola intimated he remains his number one goalkeeper.

The Brazilian international has been linked with a move to Galatasaray, though, and he could be replaced by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma if he does end up moving to Turkey.

Either way it leaves Trafford scrapping for his place against one of the best goalkeepers in world football but Hart feels like that is a challenge the 22-year-old will relish.

"It is a really strange scenario but one thing I know is that he will go in there and act as the number one.

"Whoever is the other goalkeeper I think they will share games. They are in that unique position where they are probably going to plan for 60 games in a season and they are going to share the role in the cups and the Premier League but they are definitely going to have two goalkeepers going forward and he will be one of them."