James Trafford and the Transfer Decisions That Backfired – From Morata to Robbie Keane

Football transfers are often sold as the start of a fairytale – the perfect move for the perfect player at just the right time. But as James Trafford is discovering, sometimes what looks like a dream can quickly become a nightmare. The Manchester City goalkeeper is now staring at a season spent mostly on the bench, playing second fiddle to Gianluigi Donnarumma, just months after returning to the Etihad in what was meant to be a career-defining transfer.

With Trafford already reported to be considering a January loan move, his situation is a reminder that football careers can turn on a dime. And he is far from the first player to regret a big move. From Antoine Griezmann’s Barcelona struggles to Alvaro Morata’s endless search for a home, football history is littered with examples of players whose transfers didn’t go to plan.

James Trafford’s Man City Gamble

After a record-breaking season with Burnley in the Championship — conceding just 16 goals and posting an 85% save percentage — Trafford had the world at his feet. Newcastle United wanted him and could have offered Champions League football, a chance to be first choice, and a clear pathway to the England No.1 shirt.

But Manchester City held a matching clause, and when they triggered it, Trafford couldn’t say no. After all, Ederson was on his way out, and the starting job looked wide open.

For a moment, it seemed like destiny. Then came the curveball — Ederson left sooner than expected, and City swooped for Donnarumma, one of the best goalkeepers of his generation. Now Trafford is left fighting for scraps in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, hoping the Italian star either dips in form or suffers an injury.

It’s no wonder whispers have emerged of a loan move this winter. For a 21-year-old who needs minutes to develop, this season could end up feeling like a step backward rather than forward.

Antoine Griezmann’s Barcelona Blues

Antoine Griezmann Barcelona

Few transfers were as dramatic as Antoine Griezmann’s move from Atletico Madrid to Barcelona in 2019. After publicly rejecting Barca a year earlier in his own mini-documentary — a move that irritated the Catalan giants — Griezmann finally made the switch for €120 million.

But the timing was all wrong. Barca were already in decline, Lionel Messi was dominating the team’s style of play, and Griezmann never looked comfortable. Nine La Liga goals in his first season was his worst return in eight years. The departure of Luis Suárez, who then fired Atletico to a league title, only rubbed salt into the wound.

Two years later, Griezmann returned to Atletico, his reputation bruised and his Barca stint remembered as an expensive failure.

Alvaro Morata’s Return to Real Madrid

Alvaro Morata Real Madrid

For Alvaro Morata, the temptation of returning to Real Madrid in 2016 must have been irresistible. He had grown into a top-class striker at Juventus and scored big goals, including against Madrid themselves in the Champions League.

But returning to the Bernabéu was a mistake. With Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Karim Benzema in their primes, Morata was destined to be a backup. He scored 18 goals but started only 14 league games, and just once in the Champions League.

He left after one season, heading to Chelsea, where things somehow got worse. A move that was supposed to cement him as Spain’s top striker instead left him bouncing around Europe, never quite settling, and now plying his trade at Como.

Kalvin Phillips’ City Nightmare

Manchester City v Nottingham Forest – Premier League

When Kalvin Phillips swapped Leeds United for Manchester City in 2022, it felt like a natural fit. Pep Guardiola admired his style, and Phillips had just shone for England at the Euros.

But from day one, things went wrong. An early shoulder injury set him back, and by the time he returned, Guardiola had moved on. The City boss even accused Phillips of returning from the World Cup overweight, a criticism that seemed to break any trust between them.

Phillips barely featured across two seasons, even when Rodri was suspended, and had to leave on loan to get any football. His reputation has yet to recover, and he now finds himself as little more than a squad player once again.

Gazza’s Great What-If

Paul Gascoigne’s decision to join Tottenham instead of Manchester United in 1988 is one of football’s great sliding doors moments. Gazza had given Sir Alex Ferguson his word, but Spurs offered a house, a car for his dad, and even a sunbed for his sister — and he couldn’t resist.

While Gazza produced magic at Spurs, many believe Ferguson could have helped him control his off-field demons and fulfil his full potential. The legendary manager admitted years later that not signing Gascoigne was his “biggest regret.”

Gazza himself isn’t so sure, joking that given Cantona’s kung-fu kick and Giggs’ off-field scandals, he might have fit right in at Old Trafford. Still, it’s hard not to wonder what might have been.

Robbie Keane’s Liverpool Dream Turned Sour

Liverpool v Hull City – Premier League

Robbie Keane’s childhood dream came true when he joined Liverpool in 2008. But dreams can quickly become nightmares. Rafa Benítez saw him as a left winger rather than a striker, and Keane struggled badly out of position.

Despite scoring when he did get the chance to play up front, Keane never felt trusted. Six months later, he was back at Tottenham, with Liverpool taking a £7 million hit on his transfer fee.

Tom Bischof’s Bayern Stagnation

SL Benfica v FC Bayern München: Group C – FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Trafford

The most recent case of a transfer going wrong is Tom Bischof’s switch from Hoffenheim to Bayern Munich. The highly rated 20-year-old midfielder has yet to start a game for Bayern, despite Vincent Kompany using a small squad.

Bischof is now in danger of losing his place in the Germany squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup. For a player who could have gone anywhere in Europe, Bayern might have been the wrong choice at the wrong time.

Lessons from Trafford and Company

James Trafford’s predicament highlights a hard truth: sometimes the “big move” isn’t always the right move. For young players especially, regular minutes often matter more than the badge on the shirt.

Trafford might still have a brilliant City career ahead of him — after all, Donnarumma won’t be around forever — but this season will test his patience and mental strength. If he chooses to leave on loan in January, it could yet turn into a smart career move.

What’s certain is that Trafford now joins a long list of players, from Griezmann to Keane, who learned the hard way that timing is everything when it comes to transfers.