James Trafford admits he did not see signing a new contact at Manchester City over the summer as 'security' but just naturally agreeing a new deal as he vowed he always wanted to make the loan return to Bolton Wanderers which he feels is the 'best fit' for all.
The 20-year-old joined Wanderers from City in the January transfer window, after a loan spell at Accrington Stanley came to an end. He proved to be a hit at Ian Evatt's side, as he became the club's number one goalkeeper in the the second half of the campaign in place of Joel Dixon.
The stopper rejoined Wanderers over the summer on loan for the whole of this season. He has picked up where he left off from the previous campaign and continued as the League One club's number one goalkeeper.
READ MORE: Challenge Bolton face when seeking repeats of Manchester City & Liverpool loan success stories
His short-term and long-term futures have been decided too, with the stopper penning a new contract at the Premier League champions this summer. He will be tied down to the Etihad Stadium club until the summer of 2027.
Though some have said he now has the security of a long-term deal at City, Trafford himself does not see it like that. He takes as merely signing a new contract, as he always wanted to do.
Discussing his move back to Bolton this summer, it was something he always wanted to do after knowing he would be granted opportunities to play at Ian Evatt's side. He believes a successful time at Bolton will benefit both him and his loan club.
"People say it's security, signing a contract for that many years. I don't really see it like that," he told Bolton's matchday programme. "For me, it was just my contract was up and I was going to sign another one.
"I always wanted to come back. I just wanted to play games.
"Because I'm so young and playing at a really good level, I just wanted to keep playing and come somewhere I knew I was going to play. And this was the best fit for everyone.
"I came back excited because I know all the lads so well and I have great relationships with them.
"I saw a lot of them over the summer in my time off and I was really looking forward to it; just to keep going with all the lads.
"Me and Con (Conor Bradley) and all the loan lads are fully invested in the club. We want the best for the club and to try and play as well as we can for ourselves, which will help the team, so it's a win-win."
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