Leeds United star's definitive answer on Elland Road future with 'things change' admission
Daniel James has found regular football hard to come by at Leeds United this season.
Daniel James would be open to finishing his career at Leeds United but admits things can change quickly and it’s up to him to keep his place in the squad.
James earned himself a new four-year contract last summer as reward for a stellar year as part of Daniel Farke’s 100-point Championship title-winning squad. The winger registered 12 goals and nine assists in 36 appearances, his most productive ever campaign, following on from a return of 20 direct contributions during the 2023/24 season.
The first eight months of that four-year deal have not been easy, however, with a string of injury issues reducing James to just four Premier League starts and neither a goal nor an assist. The 28-year-old has struggled to find a place in Farke’s team when fit, owing in part to a move away from traditional wingers.
Having just about secured their Premier League status, Leeds will be expected to further strengthen their attacking ranks this summer, raising the question as to whether those already on the fringes could leave. But James is showing no signs of angling for an exit any time soon.
Asked on the Official Leeds United podcast if he can envisage seeing his career out at Elland Road, James said: “Yeah, definitely. I think Stu [Dallas] obviously spent a very long time here, absolutely loved it. It's something that I would absolutely love to do as well, I think.
“So much [can change]. Year to year, things change as I've had in my career, but ultimately, I feel great. I've settled, I've really settled with the family. It definitely feels like home, but it's down to me to go and perform on the pitch.”
James hasn’t had much chance to make his mark on the grass, his one start this calendar year coming in the 3-0 FA Cup fifth round win over Norwich City in March. An adductor strain kept the Welshman out for all of April, with two Premier League substitute appearances either side of that absence totalling just nine minutes.
He remains a valued squad member, however, and boasts the kind of no-fuss attitude Farke will be keen to retain heading into another likely difficult top-flight season. The Whites boss places huge importance on group dynamics, for which James is a central part as a long-term teammate of many and international compatriots of Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon and Karl Darlow.
“I think when you sign contracts, obviously it's not always that you stay here for the full time, but I would absolutely love to do that,” the speedy winger added. “But again, it's down to me to go and perform, not to prove to everyone but to prove to myself. I want to go and influence games and ultimately that will help.”