Leeds United are keen to open talks on a contract extension for winger Dan James, according to Football Insider.
The 53-cap Wales international is currently on a deal which runs to the summer of 2026, but Leeds are reportedly looking to stop him from entering the last 18 months of his contract. If James reaches the last year of is deal without an agreement, Leeds will be increasingly vulnerable to selling him for a cut-price deal, which they will want to avoid, especially if they don’t achieve promotion this season.
Hull-born Welsh international James, who qualifies for his country through his father, has established himself as a key part of plans at Elland Road since joining in 2021, two years after a move from Swansea City fell through. He has made 89 appearances in West Yorkshire with 30 goal contributions during a spell which has spanned the top two divisions, including a loan at Fulham in 2023. Since that loan, James has been resurgent, scoring 13 times in 40 games throughout the 2023-24 campaign as Leeds missed out on immediate promotion via the play-offs.
It’s been a mixed start to the season for Leeds, who lie sixth in the Championship having been installed as pre-season favourites to go up. James has, however, been missing through injury recently, having missed the past three games with a hamstring issue having been in good form at the start of the campaign.
Before his injury, though, he started the season well, including a goal against Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday in a 2-0 away win. Fans of the Whites will be hoping he returns quickly and regains that form, as well as getting tied down to a new deal, to drive them up the table and benefit them for years to come.
Writer’s View
A new contract for James has to be high on the list of priorities at Elland Road, with the Welshman having been in especially good form over the last year or so. It’s been an underwhelming start for Leeds, but James has been a bright spark, so his return from injury, as well as a new contract, can’t come soon enough.
From a financial point of view, a deal is sensible. James is coming into his peak at 26, and if Leeds don’t go up this year, he may move sooner rather than later. Given that next season is Leeds’ last with parachute payments, a new contract would up the asking price if James does look to leave, which would soften any blow of not going up.
Rhys Evitts is a freelance journalist who graduated from the University of Lincoln with a degree in Journalism in 2024. Rhys has contributed to the Real EFL since finishing university in June 2024 and also hosts The Real EFL Podcast, and specialises in the Championship and League One.
