Matty James
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Matty James
| image = Matty James 2015.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = James playing for Leicester City in 2015
| fullname = Matthew Lee James{{cite web |title=Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/612828 |publisher=Premier League |date=2 February 2018 |access-date=11 February 2018 }}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|7|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = Bacup, England
| height = {{convert|1.81|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.lcfc.com/players/3669/Matty-James/profile |title=Matty James |publisher=Leicester City F.C. |access-date=22 December 2018}}
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Wrexham
| clubnumber = 37
| youthyears1 = 2007–2010
| youthclubs1 = Manchester United
| years1 = 2009–2012
| clubs1 = Manchester United
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2010
| clubs2 = → Preston North End (loan)
| caps2 = 18
| goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2010–2011
| clubs3 = → Preston North End (loan)
| caps3 = 10
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2012–2021
| clubs4 = Leicester City
| caps4 = 101
| goals4 = 4
| years5 = 2017
| clubs5 = → Barnsley (loan)
| caps5 = 18
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2020–2021
| clubs6 = → Barnsley (loan)
| caps6 = 15
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2021
| clubs7 = → Coventry City (loan)
| caps7 = 23
| goals7 = 3
| years8 = 2021–2024
| clubs8 = Bristol City
| caps8 = 104
| goals8 = 7
| years9 = 2024–
| clubs9 = Wrexham
| caps9 = 32
| goals9 = 2
| nationalyears1 = 2007
| nationalteam1 = England U16
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2007–2008
| nationalteam2 = England U17
| nationalcaps2 = 10
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2009–2010
| nationalteam3 = England U19
| nationalcaps3 = 13
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2009
| nationalteam4 = England U20
| nationalcaps4 = 6
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| club-update = 17:10, 21 May 2025 (UTC)
| ntupdate = 22:17, 4 January 2022 (UTC)
}}
Matthew Lee James (born 22 July 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays for {{English football updater|Wrexham}} club Wrexham. His regular position is in midfield, but he can play in defence when required. James began his career with Manchester United, where his brother Reece also came through the youth ranks, but left the club for a spell on loan at Preston North End before joining Leicester City on a permanent basis in 2012.
Club career
=Manchester United=
Born in Bacup, Lancashire, James joined the Manchester United Academy at an early age, and made his first appearance for the under-18 side in October 2005, at the age of 14. His next appearance for the under-18s came just over a year later, when he came on as a substitute for Magnus Eikrem in a Premier Academy League fixture against Manchester City. He made a further eight appearances for the under-18s during the 2006–07 season, before establishing himself as a regular in the team in 2007–08, although he began the season filling in in defense. James scored his first goals in a Manchester United shirt during the 2007–08 season, both of them in the league. After making his first appearance for the reserve team in November 2007, James became a regular for the reserves during the 2008–09 season, while remaining a relative mainstay in the under-18 side. At the end of a season in which he had made 22 appearances for the reserves and 14 for the under-18s, James received his first call-up to the Manchester United senior team on 24 May 2009. Given the number 47 jersey, James was named on the bench for the match, but did not take to the field.{{cite news |first=Ian |last=Hughes |title=Hull 0–1 Man Utd |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8048308.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=24 May 2009 |access-date=2 July 2009}}
James signed his first professional contract with Manchester United in July 2009,{{cite news |first=Nick |last=Coppack |title=Teen trio turn pro |url=http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={F9E570E6-407E-44BC-800F-4A3110258114}&newsid=6635556 |work=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=2 July 2009 |access-date=2 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901163433/http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BF9E570E6-407E-44BC-800F-4A3110258114%7D&newsid=6635556 |archive-date=1 September 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} before playing in the 1–0 win over Bolton Wanderers in the final of the 2008–09 Lancashire Senior Cup.{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Bartram |title=Reserves: Bolton 0 Utd 1 |url=http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=6637945 |work=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=17 August 2009 |access-date=27 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212045639/http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BB4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70%7D&newsid=6637945 |archive-date=12 December 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} Prior to the first team's match against Barnsley in the Fourth Round of the League Cup on 27 October 2009, James was given a new squad number (43),{{cite news |first=Ben |last=Hibbs |title=Today at Old Trafford – Tuesday 27 October – 09:01 |url=http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={6DDFCB6E-3471-4E45-9385-F04D05F4A70D}&newsid=6637707 |work=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=27 October 2009 |access-date=27 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214164115/http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7B6DDFCB6E-3471-4E45-9385-F04D05F4A70D%7D&newsid=6637707 |archive-date=14 February 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} and was named as an unused substitute.{{cite news |first=Jonathan |last=Stevenson |title=Barnsley 0–2 Man Utd |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8323041.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=27 October 2009 |access-date=27 October 2009}}
=Preston North End (loan)=
In February 2010, James followed in the footsteps of Manchester United teammate Danny Welbeck by signing on loan with Preston North End until the end of the 2009–10 season.{{cite news |title=Preston North End set to sign Man Utd's Matthew James |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/preston/8505108.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=8 February 2010 |access-date=8 February 2010}} He went straight into the Preston first-team for their match against Sheffield United on 9 February 2010, and scored within 10 minutes as his deflected shot from outside the penalty area beat Sheffield United goalkeeper Ian Bennett.{{cite news |title=Preston 2–1 Sheff Utd |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8501344.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=9 February 2010 |access-date=10 February 2010}} James returned to Manchester United at the end of the 2009–10 season, but rejoined Preston on a season-long loan on 2 July 2010.{{cite news |title=Manchester United's Matthew James rejoins Preston |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/preston/8783280.stm |work=BBC Sport |access-date=2 July 2010 |date=2 July 2010}}
On 30 December 2010, Sir Alex Ferguson chose to recall Ritchie De Laet, Joshua King and James from their loans at Preston after the sacking of his son. De Laet and King returned immediately, but due to the terms of James' loan, he did not return to Manchester United until 4 January 2011.{{cite news |title=James Returns To United |url=http://www.pnefc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10362~2257986,00.html |work=pnefc.net |publisher=Preston North End FC |date=4 January 2011 |access-date=13 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327081645/http://www.pnefc.net/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10362~2257986%2C00.html |archive-date=27 March 2012 }}
=Leicester City=
==2012–13 season==
On 15 May 2012, James and De Laet moved to Leicester City in a double transfer, for which the fee was undisclosed. The pair each signed three-year contracts.{{cite web |title=Agreement reached for United duo |url=http://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10274~2773743,00.html |publisher=Leicester City FC |work=LCFC.co.uk |date=15 May 2012 |access-date=15 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518112245/http://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10274~2773743%2C00.html |archive-date=18 May 2012}} James, along with De Laet and Jamie Vardy, made his competitive debut for Leicester against Torquay United, scoring his first goal for the club (and Leicester's third of the night) as the Foxes ran out 4–0 winners in the League Cup tie.{{cite web |title=Torquay 0–4 Leicester |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19159882 |work=BBC Sport |date=14 August 2012 |access-date=17 August 2012}} James added another 3 goals (all in the league) over the course of the season, including one in the 3–2 win against Nottingham Forest on the final day of the season, helping Leicester to the final play-off position.{{cite web |title=Nott'm Forest 2–3 Leicester |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22320604 |work=BBC Sport |date=4 May 2013 |access-date=10 January 2015}} James started both legs of the eventual 3–2 aggregate defeat to Watford in the Championship play-off semi-final.
==2013–14 season==
James found himself starting more games during the 2013–14 season, being in the line-up for Leicester's first five league games before being controversially shown the first red card of his career in the 1–2 defeat to Charlton Athletic, after being shown two yellow cards.{{cite web |title=Charlton 2 Leicester 1: Why did the ref send Matty James off? |url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Charlton-2-Leicester-1-did-ref-send-Matty-James/story-19739158-detail/story.html |work=Leicester Mercury |date=2 September 2013 |access-date=10 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111004629/http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Charlton-2-Leicester-1-did-ref-send-Matty-James/story-19739158-detail/story.html |archive-date=11 January 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} On 8 February 2014, James scored his only goal of the season, helping Leicester come from 2–0 down to draw 2–2 with Watford. James played 35 times in the league as Leicester won promotion to the Premier League, collecting the Championship trophy along the way.
==2014–15 season==
Having missed the start of the season through injury, James made his first Premier League appearance on 21 September 2014, as a second-half substitute in a 5–3 victory against his former club, Manchester United.{{cite web |title=Leicester City 5–3 Manchester United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29196081 |work=BBC Sport |date=21 September 2014 |access-date=10 January 2015}} On 10 January 2015, James picked up the second red card of his career in the 1–0 victory over Aston Villa, he was given a straight red following a strong challenge on Jores Okore and an ensuing altercation with Ciaran Clark that resulted in Clark receiving a second yellow card himself.{{cite web |title=Report: Leicester City 1 Aston Villa 0 |url=http://www.lcfc.com/fixtures-results/match-report/?matchid=3734979&tcmuri=1651452 |publisher=Leicester City |date=10 January 2015 |access-date=10 January 2015}} In a 2–0 win over Southampton on 9 May, James ruptured his anterior ligaments and was ruled out for between six and nine months.{{cite news |title=Matty James: Leicester City midfielder out for up to nine months |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32738758 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 May 2015 |access-date=14 May 2015}}
==2015–16 season==
Due to his injury, James missed the entire 2015–16 campaign, in which the club became the Premier League champions.{{Cite web|last=James|first=Stuart|date=2017-09-08|title=Matty James: 'I was in so much pain I'll remember it for the rest of my life'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/sep/08/matty-james-pain-remember-rest-of-life-leicester-city-interview|access-date=2020-12-26|website=The Guardian|language=en}}
==2016–17 season==
At the beginning of the season, James played with Leicester City U23 squad to regain fitness.{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2016/08/15/england/u21-premier-league/manchester-united-u23/leicester-city-u23/2300120/ |title=Manchester United U23 vs. Leicester City U23 – 15 August 2016 – Soccerway |website=int.soccerway.com}} On 26 November 2016, James returned to the first-team squad against Middlesbrough.{{cite web |url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/leicester-city-team-news-for-premier-league-clash-with-middlesbrough-matty-james-returns-to-squad/story-29936752-detail/story.html |title=Leicester City team news for Premier League clash with Middlesbrough: Matty James returns to squad |date=26 November 2016 |publisher=Leicester Mercury |access-date=10 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127131915/http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/leicester-city-team-news-for-premier-league-clash-with-middlesbrough-matty-james-returns-to-squad/story-29936752-detail/story.html |archive-date=27 November 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}
On 25 January 2017, he joined Barnsley on a loan deal until the summer of 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/reds-land-matty-james-3537558.aspx |title=Reds Land Matty James! |publisher=Barnsley F.C.}}
==2017–18 season==
On 19 August 2017, James made his first start for the club since May 2015 in a 2–0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/matty-james-scouting-report-leicester-11018642 |title=Matty James scouting report: Leicester midfielder proves he is ready to step into Chelsea target Danny Drinkwater's boots |last=McLeman |first=Neil |date=19 August 2017 |work=Daily Mirror |access-date=19 August 2017}}
==2020–21 season==
On 16 October 2020 he returned to Barnsley on loan.{{Cite web|date=16 October 2020|title=MATTY JAMES SIGNS ON LOAN|url=https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/news/2020/october/matty-james-loan/|website=www.barnsleyfc.co.uk}}
On 6 January 2021, James joined Championship side Coventry City on loan.{{Cite web|last=Blackwell|first=Jordan|date=January 6, 2021|title=Matty James loan confirmed with midfielder's Leicester City contract expiring|url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/matty-james-loan-confirmed-midfielders-4862373|access-date=January 7, 2021|website=LeicestershireLive}} He scored his first goal for Coventry on 27 February 2021 in a 1–1 draw against Blackburn Rovers.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56134781 |title=Blackburn 1–1 Coventry |date=27 February 2021|publisher=BBC|access-date=28 February 2021 }} On 21 May 2021 Leicester announced his departure from the club.{{cite web|url=https://www.lcfc.com/news/2152654/matty-james-to-leave-leicester-city|title=Matty James To Leave Leicester City|date=21 May 2021|publisher=Leicester City F.C.}}
=Bristol City=
On 23 June 2021, James joined Championship club Bristol City on a three-year deal.{{cite news |title=Matty James is a Robin |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/matty-james-is-a-robin/ |website=bcfc.co.uk |date=23 June 2021 |access-date=24 June 2021 }}
On 11 May 2024, James was released from Bristol City following the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2023–24 Championship season.{{cite news |title=City announce retained list |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/city-announce-retained-list-2023-24/ |website=bcfc.co.uk |date=11 May 2024 |access-date =11 May 2024 }}
=Wrexham=
On 25 October 2024, it was announced James had signed a short-term deal at Wrexham.{{cite news |title=Matty James signs short-term contract at Wrexham AFC |url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2024/october/25/signed---matty-james-signs-short-term-contract-at-wrexham-afc/ |access-date=25 October 2024 |work=Wrexham AFC |date=25 October 2024}}
On 19 December 2024, it was announced James had signed an extension at Wrexham through the 2025–26 season.{{cite news |title=James signs new 18-month deal with Wrexham |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cre7524v1vwo#:~:text=Midfielder%20Matty%20James%20has%20signed,Bristol%20City%20in%20the%20summer |access-date=4 January 2025 |work=BBC |date=19 December 2024}}
International career
James has played regularly for the England Under-16s and Under-17s sides, and in 2009 he was called up to the Under-19s for the 2009 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.{{cite web |title=England U19 Players |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/MensUnder19s/Players.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20090405001456/http://www.thefa.com/England/MensUnder19s/Players.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 April 2009 |work=TheFA.com |publisher=The Football Association |access-date=10 February 2010 }} He was named captain and in his first game as skipper, England recorded a 3–2 victory in their opening game against Austria.
Personal life
James' father, Linton James, played non-league football for Bacup Borough and later worked as assistant manager of the club.{{cite news |title=Dream debut for Valley star Matty |url=https://www.rossendalefreepress.co.uk/news/local-news/dream-debut-valley-star-matty-7832486 |access-date=19 January 2019 |work=Rossendale Free Press |date=25 September 2014}} His younger brother, Reece James, currently plays for Rotherham United in the EFL League One. He was educated at Fearns Community Sports College.{{cite news |title=James the first |url=https://www.rossendalefreepress.co.uk/sport/other-sport/james-the-first-1708891 |access-date=19 January 2019 |work=Rossendale Free Press |date=4 May 2007}}
He donated two therapy tilt-in space chairs, worth about £2000, to Fairfield General Hospital where his mother Maxine works as a nurse, in 2020.{{cite news |title=The Loop |issue=8 |publisher=Northern Care Alliance |date=Winter 2020}}
Career statistics
{{Updated|match played 3 May 2025}}
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Soccerbase}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110610173928/http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/Reserves/Matthew-James.aspx Profile] at ManUtd.com
{{Wrexham A.F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Matty}}
Category:Sportspeople from Bacup
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Men's association football utility players
Category:Manchester United F.C. players
Category:Preston North End F.C. players
Category:Leicester City F.C. players
Category:Coventry City F.C. players
Category:Barnsley F.C. players
Category:Bristol City F.C. players
Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Premier League players