Current club: Manchester City
James is a midfielder or winger who was born in Leeds and was a Leeds United supporter and ball-boy before joining their youth set-up.
He made his Premier League debut for the club as a substitute for Jason Wilcox against West Ham United in November 2002, becoming the second youngest Premier League player at 16 years 309 days. A month later he became the PL’s youngest scorer with a Boxing Day goal against Sunderland, a record subsequently beaten by Everton’s James Vaughan.
After 48 League appearances in two seasons with Leeds, plus six on loan at Swindon Town, he signed for Newcastle United after his hometown club had been relegated. He spent most of 2005-06 on loan at Aston Villa and joined them permanently in 2008.
James played a record 46 times (nine goals) for England’s Under-21s, starting back in 2004 and finishing with the Euro 2009 Final against the Germans in Malmo, and made his senior debut as a substitute for Ashley Young in a friendly against Holland in Amsterdam on 12 August 2009.
He impressed so much that he went on to be the only player to feature in England’s first six games in 2009-10.
