Paraguayan “world cup clean sheet specialist” as back up goalkeeper after signing James trafford as terms agreed 95%
Leeds United are reportedly closing in on another goalkeeper after completing the club-record signing of James Trafford, with Paraguayan international Orlando Gill emerging as the leading candidate to become his deputy at Elland Road.
Gill, who plays for San Lorenzo in Argentina, has attracted significant attention following an outstanding 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with Paraguay. Leeds are understood to be among the clubs monitoring the 26-year-old, with Manchester United and Juventus also previously linked with the towering goalkeeper. Recent reports now suggest Leeds have moved ahead of their rivals in the race.
The timing of the interest makes sense. Leeds completed the signing of Trafford from Manchester City on a five-year contract in a deal reported at around £40 million, making him the most expensive British goalkeeper in history. Trafford is expected to begin the season as Daniel Farke’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Leeds still need another senior goalkeeper, though. Karl Darlow has left for Manchester United, while Lucas Perri is reportedly close to a move to Torino. That has left Leeds searching for a reliable option to provide competition and cover for Trafford. Sky Sports News has identified Gill as one of the goalkeepers Leeds are considering, while Leeds Live has described him as the frontrunner for the position.
Gill’s reputation has grown rapidly over the past year. Standing around 1.98 metres tall, the San Lorenzo goalkeeper possesses the physical profile expected of a modern top-level goalkeeper. His performances for Paraguay at the World Cup transformed him from a relatively unfamiliar South American goalkeeper into a name attracting attention from European clubs.
His tournament statistics explain the interest. Gill made 23 saves at the World Cup, the highest total recorded by any goalkeeper at the tournament, while also preventing an Opta-calculated 2.6 goals. He recorded two clean sheets across five appearances and became one of Paraguay’s standout performers.
His reputation as a “clean-sheet specialist” is also supported by his club numbers. FotMob lists Gill with nine clean sheets from 15 league appearances in the 2026 Argentine Apertura, alongside an 82 percent save rate. Those figures underline why Leeds view him as a potentially dependable option behind Trafford.
Gill also produced one of the defining goalkeeping moments of Paraguay’s World Cup campaign when he saved two penalties during the shootout against Germany. His performances subsequently earned him recognition in Sports Illustrated’s World Cup XI.
Manchester United’s name has appeared in the transfer story, but an important clarification exists. Fabrizio Romano previously rejected reports suggesting United were negotiating for Gill, explaining that United had already established their goalkeeper hierarchy with Senne Lammens, Karl Darlow and Tom Heaton.
Juventus have also been linked with Gill after reportedly making contact with San Lorenzo while assessing goalkeeper options.
For Leeds, signing Gill would therefore represent an intriguing piece of squad building. Trafford would remain the clear first-choice goalkeeper, while Gill would provide competition, depth and a goalkeeper arriving with considerable momentum after his World Cup exploits.
If reports of Leeds moving ahead in the race prove accurate, the Whites would have beaten two European giants to one of South America’s most talked-about goalkeepers. The reported negotiations are still developing, but Gill’s profile, recent performances and impressive clean-sheet record explain why Leeds are pushing to secure his signature.
