# James Bree (footballer)

James Patrick Bree (born 11 December 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Premier League club Southampton.

## Career
### Barnsley

Bree began his career with Barnsley and made his professional debut on 3 May 2014 in a 3–2 home defeat to Queens Park Rangers, becoming the club's second youngest debutant.

### Aston Villa

Bree signed for Aston Villa on 25 January 2017 on a four-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee, described by Barnsley as "substantial". He made his debut for Aston Villa on 4 February in a 2–1 away defeat to Nottingham Forest.
He joined another Championship club, Ipswich Town, on 31 January 2019 on loan until the end of the season. His debut came three days later in a 1–0 defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

### Luton Town

Following Aston Villa's promotion to the Premier League, Bree was loaned to Luton Town, who were newly promoted to the Championship, on 8 August 2019 on a season-long loan. He made his Luton debut as a 74th-minute substitute for Martin Cranie in a 2–1 away defeat to Cardiff City two days later. Bree contributed five assists as Luton avoided relegation to League One on the final day of the season.
Bree completed a permanent transfer to Luton on 1 September 2020. On 16 March 2021, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 victory against Coventry City. His only other goal for the club came on 19 March 2022 in a 3–1 away victory against Hull City. Bree made 143 appearances for Luton in all competitions.

### Southampton

On 26 January 2023, Bree signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Southampton. On 31 January 2023, Bree made his first appearance for Southampton in a 2–1 defeat against Newcastle United in the EFL Cup semi-final second leg. Four days later, Bree made his Premier League debut in a 3–0 defeat to Brentford.
On 23 December 2023, he was substituted with a suspected hamstring tweak during a 1–0 away victory against Queens Park Rangers. Manager Russell Martin later confirmed that Bree was expected to be sidelined until the end of January. During a 3–2 defeat to Ipswich Town on 1 April 2024, he was shown a red card for a foul on Leif Davis.
Bree scored his first goal for the club on 28 August 2024 in a 5–3 away victory against Cardiff City in the EFL Cup.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 25 February 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Barnsley | 2013–14 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Barnsley | 2014–15 | League One | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Barnsley | 2015–16 | League One | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Barnsley | 2016–17 | Championship | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 0 |
| Barnsley | Total | Total | 50 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 61 | 0 |
| Aston Villa | 2016–17 | Championship | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Aston Villa | 2017–18 | Championship | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Aston Villa | 2018–19 | Championship | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 |
| Aston Villa | Total | Total | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| Ipswich Town (loan) | 2018–19 | Championship | 14 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 0 |
| Luton Town (loan) | 2019–20 | Championship | 39 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 0 |
| Luton Town | 2020–21 | Championship | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 1 |
| Luton Town | 2021–22 | Championship | 42 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 1 |
| Luton Town | 2022–23 | Championship | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 0 |
| Luton Town | Total | Total | 132 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 143 | 2 |
| Southampton | 2022–23 | Premier League | 5 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Southampton | 2023–24 | Championship | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Southampton | 2024–25 | Premier League | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 20 | 2 |
| Southampton | Total | Total | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 2 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 255 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 293 | 4 |
* 1 2 Appearances in Football League Trophy
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in Championship play-offs

## Honours

Barnsley
* Football League Trophy: 2015–16
Southampton
* EFL Championship play-offs: 2024