Daniel James Salary in 2024/25: Quick Overview
Daniel James was one of Leeds United standout stars during their Championship title winning campaign. He finished the campaign with an impressive 12 goals and nine assists in 36 appearances and was named in the Championship Team of the Season.
The Welsh international joined Leeds from Manchester United in 2021 for a fee of around £25 million. He was loaned to Fulham for the 2022/23 season but has revitalised his career since returning to Elland Road under Daniel Farke.
- Weekly Salary: £50,000
- Annual Salary: £2,600,000
- Current Club: Leeds United
- Contract Expiry: June 2026
- Reported Bonuses: Unknown
Career Earnings to Date
| Club | Years | Annual Salary |
| Swansea City | 2015-16 | £39,000 |
| Swansea City | 2016-17 | £104,000 |
| Swansea City | 2017-18 | £130,000 |
| Swansea City | 2018-19 | £312,000 |
| Manchester United | 2019-21 | £2,340,000 |
| Leeds United | 2021-22 | £2,600,000 |
| Fulham (loan) | 2022-23 | £2,600,000 |
| Leeds United | 2023-Present | £2,600,000 |
Daniel James began his career at Swansea City, where he received incremental increases in his wage as a youngster. He signed a new deal in 2017 which saw his earnings increase to £6,000 per week for the 2018/19 campaign.
This also proved to be his breakthrough season at the Welsh-based outfit, earning him a move to Premier League giants Manchester United in 2019. It was a lucrative move for the Welsh international and he penned a five-year deal worth £45,000 per week.
A £25 million transfer to Leeds United followed in 2021, which again saw his wage increase to £50,000 per week. A loan move to Fulham the following year saw him maintain the same earnings. Returning to Elland Road following their relegation to the Championship, he has once again established himself as a regular starter.
Contract Details & History
Daniel James signed for Leeds United in September 2021 and signed a deal that runs until June 2026. His current contract expires at the end of next season, although reports claimed at the end of last year that Leeds were keen to extend his current terms. However, nothing has been formally announced as of yet.
Salary Comparison: How Daniel James Stacks Up
Leeds United’s Top Earners:
- Patrick Bamford – £3,640,000 per year
- Junior Firpo – £3,120,000
- Pascal Struijk – £2,600,000
- Daniel James – £2,600,000
Comparison To Other Leading Wingers
- Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds United) – £1,560,000 per year
- Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) – £1,300,000
- Marcus Edwards (Burnley) – £1,170,000
- Borja Sainz (Norwich City) – £780,000
- Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion) – £650,000
- Tom Fellows (West Bromwich Albion) – £312,000
Daniel James is lucratively paid compared to other players within the Championship who operate in a similar position. He earns over £1,000,000 more per year than teammate Wilfried Gnonto, whilst Norwich City’s Borja Sainz earns only a fraction of the Welshman, despite being one of the top scorers in the Championship.
James’ salary is perhaps a reflection of his transfer to Manchester United in 2019. The Red Devils increased his earnings by 750% after he joined from Swansea City.
He joined Leeds United two years later whilst the Whites were in the Premier League, meaning they could afford to slightly better his deal to what he was on at Old Trafford. Despite relegation to the Championship in 2023, the winger didn’t see a decrease, indicating there was no relegation clause in his contract.
FAQs About Daniel James’ Salary
Q: What is Daniel James’ weekly and annual salary?
- A: Daniel James earns £50,000 per week at Leeds United. This equates to roughly £2,600,000 per year.
Q: When does Daniel James’ current contract end?
- A: Daniel James signed a five-year deal with Leeds United when he joined from Manchester United in 2021. This is set to expire in June 2026. It is believed his current employers are keen to extend his stay at Elland Road.
Q: Are there any bonuses or incentives in the contract?
- A: It is unknown if there are any bonuses in Daniel James’ existing deal. However, the fact that his salary didn’t change when Leeds were relegated to the Championship indicates there was no relegation clause.
Q: Has Daniel James’ salary changed in recent years?
- A: Daniel James’ salary has been consistent since joining Leeds in 2021. A season-long loan move to Fulham in 2022 also saw no change. It is likely that both clubs struck a deal to pay a certain percentage of his wages. His biggest increase came when he joined Manchester United from Swansea City in 2019, seeing his annual takings increase from £312,000 per year to £2,340,000.
Q: How does Daniel James’ salary compare to teammates or league rivals?
- A: Daniel James is within the top five earners at Leeds and is said to be on equal footing with key defender Pascal Struijk. Patrick Bamford and Junior Firpo are the only three players within the squad who earn more. Compared to other players in the division, James is the joint-third highest earner alongside Struijk and Cardiff City’s Aaron Ramsey. The only players who take home more in the Championship are teammates Bamford and Firpo.
Q: Does his salary affect club finances?
- A: Capology state that Leeds United’s annual wage bill is £36,790,000. Whilst the highest in the Championship, they have earned promotion to the Premier League which will make this bill more than affordable. This is also lower than all 20 teams who played in the top tier in the 2024/25 season. However, with summer signings expected, it is likely that Leeds will see this figure increase in the coming months.
