Jordan James (footballer, born 2004)

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Jordan James
Personal information
Full name Jordan Anthony James[1]
Date of birth (2004-07-02) 2 July 2004 (age 17)[2]
Place of birth Hereford, England
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Birmingham City
Number 19
Youth career
201?–2021 Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Birmingham City 17 (1)
National team‡
Wales U15
Wales U16
2021– Wales U18 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:33, 26 February 2022 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18:33, 26 February 2022 (UTC)

Jordan Anthony James (born 2 July 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL Championship club Birmingham City. He made his senior debut as a 17-year-old on 2 November 2021. Born in England, James has been called up by England and Wales at youth levels.

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[]

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]

International career[]

Although James was born in England, he was eligible to represent Wales because his father was born in that country.[4] He came through the 2018 Cymru Cup, a training and pre-selection camp for 14-year-olds,[15] to make his under-15 debut during the 2018–19 season.[16][17] He played for Wales U16 in 2019–20,[18] and attended under-17 training camps in 2020–21.[19][20] James made his under-18s debut against England in September 2021.[21]

James was called up to the England under-20 squad for matches against Poland and Germany in late March 2022.[22]

Career statistics[]

As of match played 26 February 2022
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 17 1 1 0 0 0 — 18 1
Career total 17 1 1 0 0 0 — 18 1

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. ^ a b "J. James". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Meet Blues new Academy Scholars". Birmingham City F.C. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b Goddard, Ben (14 September 2019). "Jordan James earns two-year scholarship at Birmingham City". Hereford Times. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Tony James". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Report: Swansea City Under-18s 0 Blues Under-18s 3". Birmingham City F.C. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Report: Charlton Athletic Under-18s 3 Blues Under-18s 2". Birmingham City F.C. 15 May 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  8. ^ "International duty for quartet". Birmingham City F.C. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Reaction: Blues 3–0 Bristol City". Birmingham City F.C. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  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 27 November 2021.
  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 27 November 2021.
  15. ^ "The Cymru Cup – Showcase for young talent". Football Association of Wales (FAW). 24 July 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  16. ^ "Wales Under 15 Tri Nations". Dragon Soccer. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  17. ^ Cope, Dan (18 April 2019). "Wales U15 clinch 2019 Tri-Nations with Belgium demolition job". FAW Trust. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  18. ^ "Under 16: UEFA Tournament". Dragon Soccer. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  19. ^ "U19 squad announced for England match". FAW. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  20. ^ James, Gareth (12 March 2021). "Keelan Williams confirmed in 20-strong squad for return of Wales U18 Team". Dai Sport. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Cymru denied by late England equaliser in U18 draw". Football Association of Wales (FAW). 3 September 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  22. ^ Veevers, Nicholas (18 March 2022). "Squad named for Poland and Germany games". England Football. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
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