Leeds United are in talks with Dan James over a new deal which would extend his stay at Elland Road for two years.
Dan James has been contracted at Leeds for four years this summer, having joined from Manchester United in 2021. The winger’s current contract runs out in 2026, and both the club and player are interested in extending that stay even further.
What deal are Leeds offering?
Leeds United want Dan James to stay, and he wants to stay, but contract talks have yet to be concluded, according to reports from Alan Nixon via his Patreon page.
The Whites are currently interested in keeping James in the city with a new two-year deal. While it is yet to be determined whether that would be an extra two years upon his current contract, keeping him until 2028, or a brand new contract that ties him down until just 2027, is unclear.
Given that Dan James reportedly believes he deserves a longer contract, it could be expected that the new deal would keep him at Elland Road until just 2027. It is understandable why the Welsh winger believes he deserves a longer contract, given the way he was treated during Leeds United’s last stay in the Premier League.
James was initially signed from rivals Manchester United in 2021 at the request of manager Marcelo Bielsa. However, Bielsa was sacked later in that season, and Daniel James was not favoured in Jesse Marsch’s preferred narrow formation.
Leeds United miraculously survived on the final day of the 2021/22 season, and Daniel James was loaned out to newly promoted Fulham on the summer transfer window’s deadline day. With Wilfred Gnonto and Luis Sinisterra replacing him on the wings.
Dan James’ four years of ups and downs
Leeds United tried to sign James on deadline day in January 2019, with him even being pictured in their kit late into the night.
However, Swansea pulled out of the deal at the last minute, with their chairman, Huw Jenkins, deciding that Dan James could get a better move in the summer. Speaking to former teammate Kenji Gorré on his podcast, James said, “It was all a bit crazy, and then it wasn’t done; I threw my phone.”
The Welshman moved to Leeds‘ arch rivals, Manchester United, in the summer and would make 7 appearances before finally completing his move across the Pennines.
Despite Fulham having a successful first season back in the Premier League, finishing 10th with Dan James on the wing, he decided that he would stay at Leeds and play in the second division.
In 79 league matches for Leeds United across their two-year stay in the second tier, the 27-year-old scored 25 times from the wing and assisted a further 16 goals. He has undoubtedly become one of the main attacking outlets in this time, and is now a mainstay in the squad when fit.
Daniel Farke described James as “outstanding” and former Leeds United 1992 First Division title-winner Jon Newsome has said “he’s too good for the Championship”.
Leeds United were crowned the Championship champions against Plymouth in the last match of the 2024/25 season, and Dan James was named as the club’s Player of the Season, completing a difficult turnaround for the Welsh winger.
Are any other clubs interested?
Despite being Leeds‘ Player of the Season, having 21 goal contributions, and being a Welsh international, there doesn’t seem to be much interest from other clubs.
This could be due to it being unlikely that Leeds would sell the player for a low price, considering the 49ers’ record for stringent negotiations. Leeds bought Dan James for £25m, and the club would want to make close to that amount if the Welshman were to leave.
If a new contract can’t be agreed upon and James is to stay at Elland Road for another season, it is without a doubt that he would become an attractive prospect as a free agent.