Jordan James (footballer, born 2004)

Jordan James

Personal information
Full name	Jordan Anthony James [1]
Date of birth	(2004-07-02) 2 July 2004 (age 20) [2]
Place of birth	Hereford, England
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Rennes
Number	17
Youth career
2012–2021	Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2024	Birmingham City	95	(9)
2024–	Rennes	6	(0)
International career‡
	Wales U15
	Wales U16
2021	Wales U18	1	(0)
2022	England U20	2	(0)
2023–	Wales	16	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:40, 9 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:40, 9 December 2024 (UTC)

Jordan Anthony James (born 2 July 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Rennes and the Wales national team.

James made his senior debut for Birmingham City as a 17-year-old on 2 November 2021, and went on to make 105 appearances in all competitions before signing for Rennes in 2024. Born in England to a Welsh father, James represented both Wales and England at youth levels. He made his senior international debut for Wales in March 2023.

Early life

James was born in Hereford, ^[3] where he attended Whitecross Hereford High School. ^[4] His father, Tony James, played in the Football League as a defender for Burton Albion, Newport County and Hereford United. ^[5] James joined Birmingham City at pre-Academy level and took up a two-year scholarship in July 2020. ^[3] According to the then head of professional development phase Mike Dodds, James was "technically very good and versatile, [and] can play in both offensive and defensive areas of the pitch." Dodds also highlighted the commitment shown by James and his family in making a round trip of more than 100 miles (160 km) from their Hereford home for training in Birmingham three times a week for nine years. ^[3]

Club career

Birmingham City

James was a member of the Birmingham under-18 team that finished as runners-up in the Northern Section of their league, ^[6] and came from behind against Charlton Athletic's U18 in the national semi-finals only to lose to a last-minute goal. ^[7] As well as playing for the under-18s, he started several matches for Birmingham's under-23 team in the 2021–22 Premier League 2. ^[8] He trained occasionally with the first team, and was given a squad number and named in the matchday squad for the EFL Championship match at home to Bristol City on 2 November. ^{[9] [10]} With only a few minutes left, Birmingham led 3–0, and the 17-year-old James came on in place of Jordan Graham to make his senior debut. ^[11] Manager Lee Bowyer said "He came on today, ran around, didn't give the ball away, competed and when he passed, he passed it with a purpose." ^[9]

With both Ryan Woods and Gary Gardner suspended, ^[12] James made his first start against Blackpool on 27 November, partnering Ivan Šunjić in central midfield in a 3–4–1–2 formation. He played the whole game, headed Kristian Pedersen's cross into the path of Lukas Jutkiewicz who scored the 81st-minute winner, and was the Birmingham Mail 's man of the match. ^[13] On the same day, James signed his first professional contract. ^[14]

Rennes

On 12 August 2024, James signed for Ligue 1 club Rennes on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee, ^{[15] [16]} reported by BBC Sport to be £4 million. ^[17] An unused substitute in the first week of the Ligue 1 season, he made his debut in the second, as a second-half substitute as Rennes lost 3–1 away to Strasbourg. ^[2]

International career

James was eligible to represent both England, where he was born, and his father's native country of Wales. ^[4] He came through the 2018 Cymru Cup, a training and pre-selection camp for 14-year-olds, ^[18] to make his under-15 debut for Wales during the 2018–19 season. ^{[19] [20]} He played for Wales U16 in 2019–20, ^[21] attended under-17 training camps in 2020–21, ^{[22] [23]} and made his under-18s debut against England in September 2021. ^[24]

James was called up to the England under-20 squad for matches against Poland and Germany in March 2022, ^[25] and appeared in both games as a very late substitute. ^{[26] [27]}

James was named in a 26-man initial squad for Wales under-21's friendly against Austria in September 2022. ^[28] However, following an injury to Joe Allen, James was instead added to the senior Wales squad for the Nations League matches against Belgium and Poland. ^[29] He did not play, but he and fellow uncapped player Oli Cooper were named to travel as backup to the senior Wales squad at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in November. ^[30]

On 25 March 2023, aged 18, James made his senior international debut for Wales in stoppage time of a Euro 2024 qualifier away to Croatia, with the hosts leading 1–0. A minute later, fellow debutant Nathan Broadhead equalised. ^[31] He made his first start for Wales in a friendly against South Korea on 7 September 2023 which finished goalless, ^[32] and in the absence of the suspended Joe Morrell, made his first competitive start four days later in a Euro 2024 qualifier away to Latvia. ^[33] Wales won 2–0, and according to WalesOnline , James partnered Ethan Ampadu in "an impressive deep midfield duo"; he was "so composed and mature on the ball, spreading play excellently and winning fouls to take the sting out of the game when needed." ^[34]

Career statistics

As of match played 8 December 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Birmingham City	2021–22 [2]	Championship	20	1	1	0	0	0	—		21	1
	2022–23 [35]	Championship	33	0	3	1	1	0	—		37	1
	2023–24 [36]	Championship	42	8	3	0	2	0	—		47	8
	2024–25 [37]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		95	9	7	1	3	0	—		105	10
Rennes	2024–25 [2]	Ligue 1	6	0	0	0	—		—		6	0
Career total			101	9	7	1	3	0	—		111	10

International

As of match played 19 November 2024 ^[38]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Wales	2023	8	0
	2024	8	0
Total		16	0

References

1. "Club list of registered players" (PDF). English Football League. 15 May 2021. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
2. "J. James". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
3. "Meet Blues new Academy Scholars". Birmingham City F.C. 1 October 2020. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
4. Goddard, Ben (14 September 2019). "Jordan James earns two-year scholarship at Birmingham City". Hereford Times. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
5. Hill, Jonathon (31 March 2023). "Dad of Wales' newest football star quit job to follow him and left stunned by TV shot". WalesOnline. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
6. "Report: Swansea City Under-18s 0 Blues Under-18s 3". Birmingham City F.C. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
7. "Report: Charlton Athletic Under-18s 3 Blues Under-18s 2". Birmingham City F.C. 15 May 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
8. "International duty for quartet". Birmingham City F.C. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
9. "Reaction: Blues 3–0 Bristol City". Birmingham City F.C. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
10. Goddard, Ben (3 November 2021). "Teenager Jordan James makes Birmingham City debut". Hereford Times. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
11. "Birmingham City 3–0 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
12. "Preview: Blues v Blackpool". Birmingham City F.C. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
13. Dick, Brian (27 November 2021). "Birmingham City player ratings vs Blackpool: James rises to the occasion as Jutkiewicz wins it". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
14. "Jordan James signs Blues pro deal!". Birmingham City F.C. 27 November 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
15. "Jordan James joins French top flight". Birmingham City F.C. 12 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
16. "L'international gallois Jordan James rallie les Rouge et Noir" [Welsh international Jordan James joins SRFC] (in French). Stade Rennais F.C. 12 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
17. Mashiter, Nick (12 August 2024). "Wales midfielder James leaves Blues to join Rennes". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
18. "The Cymru Cup – Showcase for young talent". Football Association of Wales (FAW). 24 July 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
19. "Wales Under 15 Tri Nations". Dragon Soccer. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
20. Cope, Dan (18 April 2019). "Wales U15 clinch 2019 Tri-Nations with Belgium demolition job". FAW Trust. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
21. "Under 16: UEFA Tournament". Dragon Soccer. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
22. "U19 squad announced for England match". FAW. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
23. James, Gareth (12 March 2021). "Keelan Williams confirmed in 20-strong squad for return of Wales U18 Team". Dai Sport. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
24. "Cymru denied by late England equaliser in U18 draw". Football Association of Wales (FAW). 3 September 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
25. Veevers, Nicholas (18 March 2022). "Squad named for Poland and Germany games". England Football. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
26. Nickels, Tom (25 March 2022). "Report: Poland 2–0 England MU20s". England Football. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
27. Swoffer, Chris (29 March 2022). "Report: England MU20s 3-1 Germany". England Football. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
28. "Matthew Jones: Ex-international midfielder named Wales Under-21 boss". BBC Sport. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
29. "Wales call up Birmingham teenager Jordan James for Nations League games". BBC Sport. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
30. "World Cup 2022: Ollie Cooper will join Wales squad as back-up as Luke Harris misses out". BBC Sport. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
31. "Euro 2024 qualifying live: Croatia v Wales". BBC Sport. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
32. Fisher, Ben (7 September 2023). "Wales huff and puff but fail to break stubborn South Korea in stalemate". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
33. "Rob Page lives to fight another day as Wales labour past Latvia in Euro 2024 qualifier". The Telegraph. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
34. Williams, Glen (11 September 2023). "Wales player ratings v Latvia as Ethan Ampadu dominates and Jordan James looks a real gem". WalesOnline. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
35. "Games played by Jordan James in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
36. "Games played by Jordan James in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
37. "Games played by Jordan James in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
38. "J. James". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 19 November 2024.