If you needed proof that James Trafford’s move to Elland Road is as good as done, look no further than what’s happening on the other side of this deal Manchester City are already lining up his replacement.
The Clearest Signal Yet
Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has reported that City want to sign Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli specifically to replace Trafford as backup to Gianluigi Donnarumma. Sky Sports, ESPN and Yahoo Sports have all echoed the same story in the past 24 hours and here’s the part that should get Leeds fans excited: none of them are hedging on whether Trafford is leaving. They’re all describing him as “closing in on” or “poised to join” Leeds, treating his Etihad exit as a formality.
When a club as meticulous as City starts recruiting a direct replacement before a transfer is officially announced, it’s usually because the deal is genuinely close to being signed, sealed and confirmed not speculative business.
A Reminder of Why This Signing Matters
For any Whites fan who’s followed the saga, the frustration behind Trafford’s City exit is exactly why he should slot in perfectly at Elland Road. Despite returning to the Etihad last summer for a fee in the region of £28-31 million with the expectation of becoming the long-term No. 1, Trafford managed just four Premier League appearances all season after City moved for Donnarumma on deadline day. He was left playing cup football while a rival established himself as undisputed first choice.
That’s the exact opposite of what Leeds are offering him. At Elland Road, Trafford walks straight into a genuine No. 1 role under Daniel Farke, with Lucas Perri expected to make way and depart for Torino once the ink is dry. For a 23-year-old England international with real ambitions of one day succeeding Jordan Pickford, that’s about as good a pitch as any club could make.
Who Is Rulli And What His Arrival Confirms
City’s target, Geronimo Rulli, is a 34-year-old Argentine with genuine pedigree he made 39 appearances for Marseille last season, keeping nine clean sheets across all competitions, and has World Cup experience with Argentina. Interestingly, this would be a strange full-circle moment: Rulli originally joined City back in 2016 but never played a single competitive match before being loaned straight back out.
That City are willing to go and get an experienced, ready-made deputy rather than simply promoting from within tells you everything about how urgently they need to fill the void Trafford’s departure will leave.
What This Means for Leeds Fans Right Now
Nothing is officially confirmed yet the deal, reported to be worth around £40 million and a club-record fee for Leeds, is still being finalized on the finer details. But City actively working a replacement deal in parallel is about as strong a signal as you’ll get in the transfer window that Trafford’s move to Elland Road isn’t just talk.
Bottom line: Keep an eye on official announcements from both clubs, but if City are already sorting out life without him, Leeds fans have every reason to believe their new No. 1 is closer than ever.
