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James Trafford: From farm to the final, is this England's future number one?

James TraffordGetty Images

Burnley have agreed an initial £15m fee with Manchester City for James Trafford

James Trafford certainly did not lack confidence before England's European Under-21 Championship campaign began.

And that self-belief is sky high after keeping a record six clean sheets as England beat Spain 1-0 to win the tournament without conceding a goal.

When Spain won a penalty deep into injury time in Batumi, Abel Ruiz stepped up and Trafford saved - and kept out a rebound for good measure.

"I told everyone this morning I was going to save a penalty, I knew I was going to save it," he said.

Now 20-year-old Trafford has become Burnley's record g.

The Premier League newcomers have agreed a deal worth £19m with Manchester City, which is beyond what the Clarets paid for striker Chris Wood in 2017.

It also makes Trafford the third-most expensive English goalkeeper ever, after Aaron Ramsdale and Jordan Pickford, and comes off the back of a successful spell on loan at Bolton in League One.

Two years ago Trafford was on loan at Accrington Stanley, yet has never doubted he will one day be England's number one.

"From the start of my men's career when I played at Accrington I told people I'd play for England, play for City," he told the Bolton News. "The people around me believe in me and I still completely believe I will."

A starring role in England's run to European glory has only added weight to the young stopper's claims.

"I want to play at the highest level possible," he told BBC Sport in Georgia. "Bolton were brilliant for me and I was good for them. I've brought the form that I ended the season with here."

'He is going to be world class'

Born into a farming family, who Trafford says he had to teach the offside rule, and learning to drive on a tractor, the goalkeeper's Cumbrian upbringing is unique among those with whom he progressed through the City academy.

Trafford signed from Carlisle aged 12 but immediately caught the eye of City and England Under-21 team-mate Cole Palmer.

"Wow. He's so good. You could see it in the academy," said Palmer. "Even in training, he's so hard to score past. I'm just glad everyone else is seeing it.

"He knows himself how good he is but he's not arrogant. He's a nice lad. He's a normal lad who believes in himself.

"When he first came, everyone was thinking, 'who's this kid">