James Trafford has revealed he left Manchester City for Leeds this summer for the sake of his mental wellbeing.The England international sealed a dream return to the Etihad in the summer of 2025, two years after he first departed to join Burnley.Trafford has kept four Premier League clean sheets in 10 games for Leeds this termGettyHowever, disaster struck weeks later when the Citizens then signed Italy star Gianluigi Donnarumma in the same window.This immediately saw Trafford relegated to second-choice, despite appearing set to become City’s No.1 when he first joined.It meant that after starting the first three matches of the campaign, Trafford made just one further Premier League start in the following 35 games.The 24-year-old then left the Etihad for Leeds in a club-record £45million move in the summer transfer window.Since then, Trafford has been a standout performer in the top-flight and started for England over Jordan Pickford during the most recent international break.Trafford: I lost myself at CityWith Trafford flying high at Elland Road, the goalkeeper has now opened up on his struggles during his year back at Man City, and admitted a move away for first-team football was crucial.On his time at City, Trafford told Football Daily’s The Football Interview: “What a horrendous, horrendous feeling. Not playing.“You are ringing a lot of people and just venting. Like most people, you have a [bad] day at work and you ring someone up.“I ring my dad, I ring my mum, I ring my missus, I ring my mates. I like ringing my mates and we can just have a good talk about it all. It’s quite funny.He continued: “I had to play regularly this season for my own mental wellbeing. You just lose yourself not playing.Despite a lack of Premier League minutes, Trafford was City’s first choice goalkeeper in domestic cup competitions last term and lifted two trophiesGettyGianluigi Donnarumma’s European pedigree immediately saw him replace Trafford as Man City’s No.1Getty“Maybe I’m different, I don’t know, but the feeling of not playing every week, it felt horrendous.“I just had to play every week this season for that mental feel-good and to keep progressing with my career and edging me closer to achieving the dreams I want to achieve.”Despite his limited playing time, Trafford insisted there were valuable lessons from his final season at City, where he started in both of their Carabao Cup and FA Cup final victories at Wembley.“Going into any season, I always have the highest of hopes and always the belief that it will go the best way it could,” he added.“Unfortunately, we didn’t win all four trophies. It didn’t go how I expected it to go, but it happens.“In the moment, I just tried to make the best of it as I could. Looking back, I don’t think it was a disappointing season in the end because I learned so much, I improved so much and I won two trophies in one year.Trafford has earned four England caps to dateGetty“There were moments when I was very down, regretting things and feeling disappointed, but looking back, I’m very thankful for the experience. What an incredible year.”In the same interview, Trafford shares his hopes at making the England No.1 shirt his own, having served as back-up to Jordan Pickford at the 2026 World Cup.His strong form for Leeds was rewarded in the last international break, where he started in back-to-back Nations League games.On his hopes of becoming England’s No.1, Trafford said: “It’s my aim and it’s something I’ve always dreamed of.“I always believe that one day I could be. Every day I try to keep improving to put myself in the best position to be England’s number one one day.“I think everyone in the goalkeeping department with the national team wants to be number one because it’s an amazing position to be in.”