Leeds keeper James Trafford says regular game time became essential for his mental wellbeing, and that drove his summer exit from Manchester City.
The conversation around mental health in football keeps growing, and it matters to the many African and diaspora players who know how heavy life on the fringes of a Premier League squad can get. Leeds United goalkeeper James Trafford has now added his voice, explaining that his struggles at Manchester City last season were central to his summer move.
Trafford has made it clear that playing regularly was not just a career preference but a need for his wellbeing. A goalkeeper who trains daily but rarely gets a matchday role can feel cut off from the rhythm and purpose that drive any footballer, and he decided he could not go on that way.
The decision shows how modern players weigh the pull of a giant club against the importance of feeling valued on the pitch. Sitting on the sidelines at a powerhouse may look glamorous from outside, but Trafford's account shows the personal cost when minutes dry up.
Now at Leeds, he has the chance to rebuild his confidence in the number one jersey and prove that choosing his mental health was the right call. For young keepers watching from Lagos to Accra to London, it is a reminder that stepping away from a big name can be a strength, not a step back.
