Manchester City goalkeeper hints at plans for new challenge next season after successive loan spells

On-loan Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford has suggested that it is unlikely that he will have a third loan spell at Bolton Wanderers.

The England U21 international has spent two seasons at the University of Bolton Stadium after initially joining the club on a short-term loan in January 2022.

Trafford moved to the League One club on a season-long loan in June, with the 20 year-old having made over 70 appearances for the club across the past two campaigns.

The goalkeeper has made 45 appearances for Bolton in the league this season, as Ian Evatt’s side secured a play-off place in a bid for promotion to the Sky Bet Championship.

Bolton are currently in fifth place ahead of the final round of EFL fixtures on Monday, with Trafford having kept 22 clean sheets in the league already this season.

The Cumbria-born goalkeeper has however suggested that he won’t be returning to the University of Bolton Stadium for a third loan spell, but has revealed his hopes of helping the club achieve promotion to the Championship.

“I’m totally focused on the present and the now which is trying to achieve promotion, but I think next season doesn’t include Bolton, regardless of the division,” the 20 year-old told the The Wanderer Podcast on BBC Radio Manchester.

“When I joined 18 months ago, the gaffer, Chris Markham and all the staff put a lot of faith in me and I’ve repaid it.

“It’s been massive because if I didn’t join Bolton it would have been a different story and a different journey, which I was more than looking forward to.

“But Bolton has exceeded all expectations and has provided a massive part of my journey so far.”

Trafford penned a new long-term deal with Manchester City until 2027 last July, though it remains unclear whether he could be part of Pep Guardiola’s plans for next season.

Zack Steffen, who was part of City’s Premier League title winning squad last season, has been on-loan at Middlesbrough for the 2022/23 campaign.

Meanwhile, Guardiola handed a first Premier League start to Stefan Ortega against West Ham on Wednesday evening, with the German goalkeeper having signed on a free transfer last summer.