James Trafford's dreams at Man City are shattered.

James Trafford is only a reserve goalkeeper at Manchester City.

£27 million, a promise of a starting spot, the prospect of Ederson leaving… everything seemed quite clear at the time. Then football took a different turn.

On the final day of the transfer window, Gianluigi Donnarumma arrived. From then on, the order in goal at Man City completely changed. Trafford was no longer the primary option. He stepped back, became quieter, and was mentioned less frequently.

The 2-0 victory against Salford City in the FA Cup last weekend was just one of the rare opportunities Trafford was given. After the match, what the goalkeeper said was neither harsh nor evasive.

"It's always good to play," he told BBC Sport. Then he paused. "But that's not what I was expecting going into the season."

There was no public reproach. Just a frank acknowledgment. He had tried to "prevent" this scenario, had calculated, had placed his faith in the original plan. But when reality turned out differently, the only thing left was to accept it.

Donnarumma has played 30 games since arriving at Manchester. Trafford? 11 appearances in all competitions, including three Premier League matches all played since August. For much of the time, he's been waiting.

James Trafford made a rare appearance for Manchester City.

In December, there were reports that Trafford wanted to leave the club during the winter transfer window. Ultimately, the deal didn't happen. Stefan Ortega was the one who left, moving to Nottingham Forest. Therefore, Trafford's position remained unchanged.

What makes this story more complicated is the situation with the England national team. Upon returning to Man City, Trafford wasn't just thinking about club level. He wanted to compete with Jordan Pickford for a place in goal for the national team. But Thomas Tuchel made it clear: to qualify for the World Cup, a player needs to play regularly.

In top-level football, opportunities don't wait for anyone. Trafford understands that better than anyone. He still trains every day and maintains a professional attitude. When praised for his saves against Salford, he simply replied: "Making saves always feels good."

Some seasons are quiet, not spectacular. They unfold with patience and a touch of disappointment. For Trafford, this year seems to be like that, a journey that forces him to learn to stand firm, even when the spotlight is no longer shining directly on him.