Burnley have secured a replacement for goalkeeper James Trafford after the Englishman recently rejoined Manchester City.
Trafford opted for a move back to the Etihad Stadium and joined Pep Guardiola’s side for a record fee for a British keeper of £31m.
The keeper was pivotal in helping Scott Parker’s side secure automatic promotion back up to the Premier League last season, playing 45 league games.
His stellar season in the Championship saw him keep 29 clean sheets, while he went over 1000 minutes without conceding a goal during one portion of the campaign.
Parker would have been keen to keep hold of Trafford, as Burnley are likely to come under regular pressure from sides in Premier League games.
This clear jump up in quality newly promoted Premier League sides brutally experience means deploying a reliable keeper is essential to staying in games and not falling into a relegation battle.
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Trafford’s replacement has Premier League experience
Martin Dubravka is set to replace Trafford in between the sticks at Turf Moor as he has signed with The Clarets from Newcastle United.
The two clubs agreed on an undisclosed fee and the player has committed to a one-year deal.
Burnley Football Club are delighted to confirm the signing of experienced goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka on a one-year contract ✍️
A new chapter 🤝
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) August 7, 2025
The Slovakian keeper spent seven-and-half years at The Magpies, where he made 179 appearances and recorded 51 clean sheets.
Having lost his starting place to Nick Pope in 2022, Dubravka spent the first half of the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Manchester United.
While the 36-year-old has had some shaky spells during his time in English football, he brings a wealth of valuable top-flight experience to Parker’s side.
During a first official interview with his new club, Dubravka expressed pure joy at the move.
“I’m delighted to be here,” said the Slovakian. “It’s a really exciting time to be joining this club, ahead of our return to the Premier League.”
“I’ve only heard really positive things about the club, the culture and the environment we work in, so I’m excited about getting going with the season kicking off next weekend.”
Parker’s men begin the season with a trip to Tottenham Hotspur on August 16.
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