Is James Trafford Gaining Ground on Jordan Pickford's Spot?
When England's head coach Thomas Tuchel opted to field Leeds United's James Trafford against World Cup champions Spain during the last international break, it raised eyebrows about the future of long-time starter Jordan Pickford.
Tuchel emphasized that Pickford remains England’s primary choice, but alternating goalkeepers—starting Trafford in the 3-2 defeat to Spain and then again in the victory over the Czech Republic—created buzz about the competition for the number one spot.
England is set to clash with Croatia at Wembley on Thursday before facing a tough test against Spain in Madrid on Sunday. While Tuchel continues to express confidence in Pickford, Trafford has seized the opportunity to make his case.
The head coach hinted at possibly rotating the two keepers again in the upcoming matches, which only intensifies the focus on England's goalkeeping situation.
Since debuting in a goalless draw against Germany in 2017, Pickford has built an impressive record. Under his watch, England has returned to the forefront of international football, reaching the World Cup semi-finals in both 2018 and 2022, as well as making it to the finals of the Euros in 2020 and 2024.
According to Opta, Pickford has only made two errors leading to goals across 93 caps, boasting 46 clean sheets and a 74% save ratio.
Trafford, still early in his international career, has only four caps, and former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes that while Pickford remains Tuchel's clear first choice, the manager’s strategy makes perfect sense.
Robinson shared with BBC Sport, "It will be interesting to see how Tuchel handles these upcoming matches, but giving James Trafford some playing time was a smart move. We tend to only take one keeper to tournaments who has a wealth of experience, while the backups often have minimal caps."
Robinson pointed out that 80 of Pickford's appearances have been in competitive matches, with 33 of those in major tournaments—19 in World Cups and 14 in European Championships.
He added, "You can’t replicate that kind of experience as a backup keeper. James Trafford is just 24 and has four caps, two of which are competitive, so Tuchel is clearly planning for a future where Pickford might not be available or may struggle with form.
"While many see this as a threat to Pickford’s position, I don’t think Tuchel views it that way. Jordan remains England's first choice, and justifiably so, given his consistent performances over the years. This discussion is for later on, but for now, Pickford holds the spot."
Robinson also pointed to Pickford's club performance, noting that since the start of the 2024-25 season, only David Raya of Arsenal has more clean sheets in the Premier League than Pickford, who has 27 to Raya’s 39. "That’s an impressive tally, especially given the challenges Pickford faces at Everton, which makes his record even more remarkable."
Trafford is certainly making his case, having showcased his abilities in those Nations League matches against Spain and the Czech Republic, positioning himself as Tuchel's main backup to Pickford.
With Dean Henderson back from injury and looking to add to his six caps, there's potential competition, though he hasn’t made Tuchel’s latest squad.
Trafford’s summer move to Leeds United from Manchester City was a significant step in his career, with the transfer potentially worth up to £45 million—making it a British record for a goalkeeper. This followed a £23 million switch to City from Burnley, which was derailed when Pep Guardiola opted to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma instead.
Robinson concluded, "James Trafford’s move to Leeds was essential for both him and the club. It’s a perfect fit."
