Pep Guardiola has moved quickly to kill any January transfer speculation around James Trafford, insisting the Manchester City goalkeeper will remain at the club despite a frustrating lack of minutes that threatens his England ambitions ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
Speaking ahead of City’s Carabao Cup clash with Brentford, Guardiola left no room for doubt when asked if Trafford could leave in search of game time. The message was blunt, public, and clearly intentional.
Trafford, 23, is set to make only his fourth start of the season in Wednesday night’s cup tie, with Gianluigi Donnarumma firmly established as Guardiola’s first choice following his summer arrival from Paris Saint-Germain. The former Burnley goalkeeper has not started a Premier League match since August, a drought that already carried consequences when he was omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad in November.
Instead, Tuchel opted for Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, and Nick Pope, a clear signal that Trafford’s club situation is beginning to impact his international standing. With the World Cup now less than a year away, that absence has sharpened the debate around his future.
Rumors of a swift exit surfaced almost as quickly as Trafford arrived at the Etihad, particularly given his reputation as one of England’s most promising young goalkeepers. Guardiola, however, made his position unmistakably clear.
“Absolutely,” the City manager said when asked if Trafford would stay beyond January. “He’s an incredible keeper. Unfortunately for him, Gianluigi is the first choice keeper, but he is an incredible keeper.”
Guardiola expanded on the unique demands of the role, hinting at why patience, rather than panic, is expected from Trafford. “The position of the keeper is so special. During the year, in one game, you can change,” he explained. “He is with us and will be with us this season, and after we will see what happens.”
It is a familiar Guardiola stance. At Manchester City, squad stability often outweighs individual concerns, particularly in specialist positions like goalkeeper where rotation is rare and continuity is prized. Trafford’s situation mirrors past cases at the club where long-term planning trumped short-term solutions.
From City’s perspective, the logic is straightforward. Donnarumma’s presence offers elite-level reliability across competitions, while Trafford provides high-quality depth and domestic cup coverage. Letting him leave midseason would weaken that structure, even if it might benefit the player personally.
The Brentford match itself will see Guardiola rotate where possible, although his options are limited. Jérémy Doku remains sidelined after missing Sunday’s win over Crystal Palace, with Guardiola suggesting the Belgian winger could be out for another two to three weeks. A return around the New Year period is the current hope.
International commitments have further thinned City’s squad, with Omar Marmoush and Rayan Aït-Nouri away at the Africa Cup of Nations. That context explains why Trafford’s inclusion against Brentford is less about opportunity and more about necessity.
Even so, Guardiola made it clear where his priorities lie. The Carabao Cup, while respected, takes a back seat to league business.
“The really important game is West Ham,” he said. “West Ham is so, so important. Of course the players who didn’t play will now play, and we will play some academy players as well.”
For Trafford, the short-term outlook remains unchanged. Cup appearances, training ground excellence, and the hope that football’s most unforgiving position can turn on a single moment. For England, the clock continues to tick.
What happens after the season, as Guardiola hinted, remains open. But for now, Manchester City have drawn a firm line. Trafford is staying put, World Cup concerns and all.
