(Credit: Imago/Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Jonathan Burnett

Sun 10 August 2025 19:06, UK

James Trafford and Nico O’Reilly will both hope to play key roles in a new-look Manchester City side this season.

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Pep Guardiola‘s rebuild at the Etihad Stadium this summer is well underway with over £150million spent so far, including £115m on four new signings ahead of Man City’s involvement in the Club World Cup.

Man City have also strengthened between the sticks by bringing their former academy product Trafford back to the club from Burnley, beating Newcastle to his signature in a £31m move for the 22-year-old.

Trafford, O’Reilly, Rico Lewis and Phil Foden make up four homegrown players in Man City‘s squad ahead of the new season, but it remains to be seen how prominent a role the quartet will play in Guardiola’s side next term.

Pep Guardiola has made some big changes to his squad this summer (Credit: Imago)

Man City’s Club World Cup campaign may have ended well ahead of schedule in a shock round-of-16 loss to Al-Hilal, but Guardiola’s side got their delayed pre-season off to a winning start against Palermo.

Trafford and O’Reilly both played the opening 45 minutes of a 3-0 win for City which saw 10 members of the starting line-up replaced at half-time, with skipper Erling Haaland playing on until the 60th minute.

Ederson replaced Trafford at the break and is expected to start in Man City’s opener away at Wolves on 16 August, but Guardiola’s new number one still expressed his delight on Instagram after his debut.

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O’Reilly left the one-word verdict of “Top” in the comments of Trafford’s post (10 August), which said: “Felt good to put the shirt on again”.

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Football Insider Verdict

Trafford‘s return to the Etihad gives Guardiola (and whoever succeeds him) a new number one for many years to come, but O’Reilly’s long-term future at Man City could be uncertain after his breakout season.

Man City have already knocked back a £40million bid from Chelsea for O’Reilly and are close to agreeing a new contract with the 20-year-old, whose versatility could be crucial again for Guardiola next term.

Cole Palmer has laid the path for Man City’s academy graduates to move on and succeed elsewhere, but Trafford’s comeback could indicate to O’Reilly that the Etihad is still the place to be for his development.

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