Manchester City

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Goalkeeper James Trafford has returned to Manchester City from Burnley.

The 22-year-old has signed a five-year contract and has been assigned squad number one for the upcoming campaign.

"Rejoining City is such a special and proud moment both for me and my family," he said. "I always dreamed that one day I would be able to come back to Manchester City.

"This is the place I call home - it's a truly special football club with fantastic people who make it such a unique place to work and play.

"I am also very excited and honoured to have been given the opportunity to work under Pep and with such a world-class group of players.

"I am still very young and hungry to keep learning and improving - and I know there is no better environment than Manchester City to help make me become the best goalkeeper I can be.

"I also cannot wait to play in front of the amazing City fans for the first time and will do everything I can to help this great club look to achieve even more success."

How will Trafford fit in?

Do you expect him to immediately challenge Ederson for a starting spot?

Get in touch with your views here

Manchester City have rejected a bid in the region of £25m from Nottingham Forest for 22-year-old English midfielder James McAtee. (Sky Sports), external

Manchester United have an interest in Paris St-Germain's Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, but are reluctant to get involved in a bidding war with Manchester City and Chelsea for the 26-year-old's services. (Sun), external

City have informed German goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, 32, that he can leave the club following the arrival of James Trafford from Burnley. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Napoli want Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish, 29, but would struggle to meet his wage demands. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

Finally, Kalvin Phillips, 29, wants to reunite with boyhood club Leeds United. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Noel Sliney
BBC Sport journalist

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With Everton and West Ham the latest Premier League clubs linked with out-of-favour Manchester City forward Jack Grealish, we took a look at what has happened to the £100m man.

It has been a chastening two years for Grealish since he enjoyed the most successful season of his career. Then, he played an integral role in Manchester City's historic treble in 2022-23, starting the FA Cup final and every one of their seven knockout ties as the club won the Champions League for the first time. Only six outfield City players spent more time on the pitch than Grealish in the Premier League too.

A hamstring injury halted his momentum early in 2023-24, which the England international ended with more yellow cards (seven) than combined goals and assists (six) across all competitions. He featured in just 40% of the total minutes played by City despite being in the squad for 82% of them.

Image source, Opta

His involvement dropped to 30% last term as Grealish's career plummeted to its nadir. Three of his six starts after Christmas came against lower-league opposition in the FA Cup, while 16 starts in total is his fewest in a campaign since he was 20 years old.

Unsurprisingly, it was also the player's least productive season in terms of chances created and dribbling success since returning to the Premier League in 2019.

City's team structure has seldom afforded Grealish the license to take on and glide past opponents as he did with such insouciance as the talismanic captain at boyhood club Aston Villa.

The question now is whether the affable 29-year-old can reverse the downward trajectory of his career – and who will afford him the opportunity to do so.

Everton are interested in signing England midfielder Jack Grealish, 29, on loan from Manchester City but face competition from West Ham and Napoli. (ipaper - subscription required, external)

Meanwhile, Celtic and Strasbourg have submitted offers for Manchester City's 19-year-old English defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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There is something unique about a football fan's love for their club.

As once said by the great Arrigo Sacchi: "Football is the most important of the least important things in life".

Tears of joy - and heartbreak. Friendships forged. Memories that last a lifetime.

Sometimes it is there from the beginning, sometimes a moment is what starts it all or takes it to another level.

Wherever it comes from, the love for a club is often there for life.

As a new season edges closer, we want to know why you love City.

When was the moment it all began?

What is your most special memory?

Your first home game? Earliest shirt? A seminal away trip?

Send us your pictures and stories

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Manchester City have sold academy winger Farid Alfa-Ruprecht to Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth up to £5m.

The 19-year-old did not make a first team appearance for City but won the PL2 competition last season.

City have inserted a 50% sell-on clause in the deal.

In a post on his social media, external earlier this week, Alfa-Ruprecht thanked the club for helping him develop as a footballer and a person.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City insert buy-back clauses when they sell players yet tend not to activate them when those academy products move on.

But this is an example of why they put them in the deals, as it has proven helpful in the ability to buy back a talented player on this occasion.

Having served an impressive apprenticeship at Turf Moor, City believe they can develop James Trafford into a top goalkeeper - one who is already ready for the Premier League.

However, the club now have the dilemma of moving on either Ederson, who is entering the final year of his contract, or Stefan Ortega, who has now slipped a place down the pecking order.

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

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James Trafford is set for a return to Manchester City in a £27m deal, two years after he left to join Burnley.

The goalkeeper conceded just 16 league goals with the Clarets last season and kept a Championship-best 30 clean sheets - equalling Port Vale's Football League record set 71 years ago.

He also set a new Championship record of 12 consecutive shutouts between December and February before he was finally beaten in a 2-1 victory at Cardiff City at the start of March.

But despite his stellar performances in the second tier, the 22-year-old lacks top-flight experience, with only 28 of his 153 senior appearances coming in the Premier League.

Trafford's shot-stopping is undoubtedly first rate and his save percentage stands at almost 85% last term. That figure far exceeds the numbers posted by both Ederson and Stefan Ortega, although Trafford was largely facing inferior opposition at Championship level.

But he will have to work on his distribution if he is to fit into Pep Guardiola's side. His pass completion of 70% is comfortably lower than that of City's current keepers - partly because Burnley opted to go long more often and partly because City's pair are more proficient at playing out from the back.

Could Trafford take the number one spot off Ederson? Who should be City's first-choice goalkeeper this season?

Let us know here

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Real Madrid are ready to offer £100m for Manchester City midfielder Rodri. (Sun), external

City forward Jack Grealish is one of several left-sided players being considered by Napoli. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian), external

Meanwhile, the Blues want to keep Ederson, despite Galatasaray expressing an interest in the goalkeeper, who is about to enter the final year of his contract. (Independent), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Former Manchester City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver says the club allowing Ederson's contract to run into its final year gives the player "a lot more power" in deciding his next move.

Ederson has been linked with a move away this summer, with Turkish club Galatasaray rumoured as the most likely destination.

In Tuesday's BBC Sport gossip column Pep Guardiola's side were linked with a move for Burnley's 22-year-old goalkeeper James Trafford, who came through the ranks at Etihad Stadium.

"It's gathered a bit of pace, especially in recent days," Weaver told BBC Radio Manchester. "When it gets to this point, it almost looks like it's going to happen.

"He's into the last year of his contract now. Most summers he gets linked with a move away but you never think it's actually going to happen. This summer, I think we could actually see it happening.

"He's set his standards so high, so last season and the Club World Cup were probably not at the standard he'd expect from himself.

"But I don't think this is a reaction and wanting to leave because of that. He's into the last year of his deal and City don't let players run their contracts down like this for players they really, really want to keep.

"You would imagine over the last year or so there has been talks with the hierarchy at City over extending his stay but for whatever reason that has not come to fruition.

"The fact City have let the situation creep into the last year of his contract gives the player a lot more power in deciding what he wants to do.

"The ideal situation for me is he stays at City but it's looking increasingly likely that he will go."

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

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Manchester City have signed 15-year-old Sheffield Wednesday academy striker Caelan Cadamarteri for an undisclosed fee.

The Scotland Under-16 international scored 24 goals for the club's under-18s last season.

The beleaguered Championship side are under a number of embargoes because of financial issues and owner Dejphon Chansiri is looking to sell the club.

"Sheffield Wednesday wish the very best to Caelan as he embarks on the next step of his fledgling career," the Owls said in a statement on the club website., external

Manchester City are looking to beat Newcastle United to 22-year-old Burnley and England goalkeeper James Trafford. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Trafford is "very keen" to return to City this summer after they moved for the Magpies target. (Football Insider), external

Meanwhile, Newcastle will offer Tino Livramento a new contract to try and fend off interest in the England full-back from City, who are prepared to pay £65m for the 22-year-old. (Times - subscription required), external

Alternatively, City are not planning a move for Livramento and are looking at other targets for the position. (ESPN), external

Manchester United are set to compete with Manchester City for the signature of 26-year-old Sporting and Denmark midfielder Morten Hjulmand. (A Bola - in Portuguese, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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One the most impressive things about Sverre Nypan is the amount of minutes he has played at such a young age.

The 18-year-old has already made more than 70 senior appearances for Rosenborg, after making his debut for their first team at 15.

In that time, he scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists, meaning in the league he averaged a goal contributions every 178 minutes.

According to Transfermarkt, Nypan has been deployed in a number of positions but predominately as a central midfielder.

He has also operated as a striker and as a wide forward.

Read more here

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Norwegian football journalist Christian Nilssen says Manchester City's new midfielder Sverre Nypan has already made a splash in his home country.

The teenager made his first-team debut for Rosenborg at just 15 and has already acrrued 70 appearances.

He has signed a five-year at Etihad Stadium.

"He is a very good player," Nypan told BBC Radio Manchester. "Let's see what he develops into but let's call him a number eight.

"He's very mobile and a good passer of the ball. He's creative and he likes to threaten the opposition box.

"He has been a big name in Norwegian football for a few years already so we are not surprised he has been sold. Maybe the surprise is that he signs for Manchester City where the window to get into the first team is quite small.

Nilssen says Nypan is a Manchester United fan and that he had "been on the list" at Old Trafford for a long time. He added that Aston Villa had also been a possible destination for the young midfielder.

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Manchester City have set their price at £35m for midfielder James McAtee, 22, with interest from clubs such as West Ham and Eintracht Frankfurt. (Telegraph - subscription, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Manchester City have unveiled their away kit for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

The all-black shirt takes inspiration from the club's oldest-known kit, dating back to 1884, while the traditional collar and white trim "merges classic and contemporary".

The jersey also features a metallic club crest as a nod to the "timeless essence" of the club.

Pep Guardiola's side will wear the strip for the first time on Saturday, 9 August for their pre-season friendly against Palermo in Italy.

City believe they have created "a powerful tribute" to their earliest-known kit, but what do you make of it?

Choose your verdict here

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Manchester City have sold midfielder Maximo Perrone to Italian side Como in a deal worth up to £13m.

The 22-year-old Argentine made only two senior appearances after joining City from Velez Sarafield for about £8m in January 2023.

Perrone spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Las Palmas in La Liga and the 2024-25 campaign at Como, making 26 appearances and helping them finish 10th in Italy's top flight under former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

It is understood the deal includes a 30% sell-on clause and a buy-back option for City.

"My time at Manchester City has come to an end but I'd like to thank everyone at the club for their support and guidance," said Perrone.

"I am excited for this new adventure and I wish Pep Guardiola and the players every success in the future."

West Ham are the latest club to contact Manchester City over Jack Grealish, with Everton also keen on a loan deal for the playmaker. (Ben Jacobs on X, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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