It was a heartwarming moment as former Whites goalkeeper Nigel Martyn took to the Elland Road pitch, grinning as he met the club’s latest addition James Trafford. It was back in 1996 Martyn made the move to Leeds, setting a British record fee for a goalkeeper at the time, before going on to make 273 appearances for the club.
Fast forward 30 years and the former England international passed the baton onto the current one as James makes the switch to West Yorkshire in a club-record deal, commanding a fee that sets him aside as most expensive British goalkeeper in history. Despite the price tag, the 23-year-old remains humble, focusing on what he can control all while confident within himself.
“I don’t really care if I have a point to prove,” he exclusively told LUTV, after putting pen to paper at Elland Road. “I know my own abilities. I go out and try as hard as I can and have as much fun as I can. Everything that comes with it is what it is. I am really excited and just really happy that it is finally done. I can get onto preparing for the new season and can focus on getting in with everyone next week.
“It is one amazing club, full of energy and passion – the club and the fans. That goes a really long way because of the energy of the team, the players and the fans contribute to results and performances and improving them. It is just a great place for anyone, let alone myself, to play.”
Trafford, twice capped by England and part of the Three Lions’ squad that reached the semi-final of this summer’s FIFA World Cup, becomes the third signing of a productive transfer window to date after making the switch from Manchester City. The stopper had returned to the Cityzens the previous summer having come through the youth system at the Etihad, before excelling with Burnley as the Clarets did battle with Daniel Farke’s side in the race for promotion a couple of terms ago.
“I competed against Leeds very closely two seasons ago,” he explained, remembering his time with the Lancashire club. “Playing against them, they were obviously a very, very strong team. It is a very tough place to come and last season, I remember seeing them at the Etihad. From that second half onwards, they were incredible. The energy, the physicality, the directness was just fun to watch, and it is obviously very effective.
“To take Leeds to the next step, it is just to keep going on the track they have been going on since the manager came in. Obviously, close to getting promoted out of the Championship, lost in the final, then got promoted with 100 points, then stayed up and got better through the season. It shows that something is going well and they are sticking to a good process. You have just got to keep on that same trajectory.”
As our new addition alludes to, United impressed on their return to the top-flight, the first step in establishing itself once more as one of the league’s elite and that ambition was one of the big draws for an equally determined player. Last campaign with Pep Guardiola’s City, Trafford’s starring role in two finals brought a domestic cup double.
It is those experiences lived at a young age, coupled with the drive of himself and those at his new home, that he hopes will translate into meaningful progress. For a keeper that wants to establish himself as his country’s number one in the years to come, the early signs are that Elland Road is the place to take him to the next level.
“The league is a better place for Leeds being in it because of the way they want to play and who they are as a club, the history they have. The club want to take it to where it has been historically and I think everyone here believes that is going to happen. They are clear in what they want and, yeah, full belief it is going to happen. It is natural for the goal for the season to obviously be better than it was last season. That shows growth. It is just going to be a lot of fun.
“The energy that they have here, the physicality, the quality in this team, who knows what is going to happen? Anything can happen. It is obviously going to be, hopefully, a very, very positive season. A few of the lads I have spoken to already say the spirit is incredible. It is really, really good. When you have got that belief and that togetherness, it is going to take you a long way.”
James was joined by his family who had travelled from Cumbria to be with him as he became our record transfer. With Nigel Martyn passing the baton on to our latest player between the sticks before he gets to work, ambitions are high. After all, that is quite the endorsement.
