Reece James (footballer, born 1993)

**Reece James** (born 7 November 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays for Blackpool. His usual position is as a left-back, but also occasionally plays in midfield.

After spending time as a youth player with Rossendale United, Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End, James followed his brother Matty to Manchester United in 2012; however, he failed to break into the first team, and after loan spells with Carlisle United, Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town, he made a permanent move to Wigan Athletic in 2015. After three years with Wigan, James joined Sunderland on a free transfer at the end of the 2017–18 season. He then spent two years with Doncaster Rovers.

## Career

Born in Bacup, Lancashire, James began his football career as a youth player with local club Rossendale United, and spent time with Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End before signing for Manchester United in July 2012.

### Manchester United

He signed for Carlisle on a half-season loan contract in July 2013, and made his professional debut on the opening day of the 2013–14 season in Carlisle's 5–1 home defeat to Leyton Orient. However, he suffered an injury shortly before half time in Carlisle's penalty shoot-out victory against Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup on 7 August, and returned to Manchester United on 24 September 2013.

After returning to Manchester United, James was ever-present in the club's reserve team for the remainder of the season, and his performances led to a nomination for the Denzil Haroun Reserve Player of the Year award, ultimately losing to Saidy Janko. He made his first-team debut in the opening match of the club's pre-season tour of the United States on 23 July 2014, and scored twice from a left-wing-back role as Manchester United beat the LA Galaxy 7–0. On 26 August 2014, he made his only United first-team appearance in the League Cup defeat to Milton Keynes Dons.

On 26 November 2014, James was sent on loan to Rotherham United for two months. After eight appearances, including one in the FA Cup, he returned to Manchester United on 26 January 2015. On 26 March, he joined Huddersfield Town on loan until the end of the 2014–15 season. He made his debut in the 1–1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough Stadium on 4 April 2015. His first goal for the club came in the 4–4 draw with Derby County at the John Smith's Stadium on 18 April 2015, when he scored directly from a corner to give Town a 3–1 lead.

### Wigan Athletic

On 21 July 2015, James joined Wigan Athletic on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. After being largely ever present for the first half of the season an injury suffered in a 3–1 victory over Chesterfield, in which James scored his first goal for the club, led to him missing the remainder of the 2015/16 season and the majority of the following season.

He was released by Wigan at the end of the 2017–18 season.

### Sunderland

He subsequently signed a one-year deal with Sunderland on 2 July 2018.

### Doncaster Rovers

James signed for Doncaster Rovers on a two-year deal on 19 June 2019 for an undisclosed fee. On 5 October, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–2 defeat against Portsmouth.

### Blackpool

After two years at Doncaster, James will join Championship club Blackpool on 1 July 2021 on a three-year deal.

## Personal life

James' father, Linton James, played non-league football for Bacup Borough and later worked as assistant manager of the club. He attended Fearns Community Sports College. His brother, Matty, who is also a product of the Manchester United academy, currently plays for Leicester City.

## Career statistics

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## Honours

### Club

**Wigan Athletic**

* EFL League One: 2015–16, 2017–18

**Sunderland**

* EFL Trophy runner-up: 2018–19

## References

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2. ↑ 41. Reece James. Manchester United. Retrieved on April 21, 2015.
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15. ↑ Mystery surrounds James' ankle injury (en). Retrieved on March 31, 2017.
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17. ↑ Wigan Athletic in talks with five out-of-contract players after League One title win. BBC Sport (18 May 2018). Retrieved on May 18, 2018.
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19. ↑ Rovers sign Sunderland defender Reece James. Doncaster Rovers Official Site (19 June 2019). Retrieved on June 23, 2019.
20. ↑ Reece James: Doncaster Rovers sign left-back from Sunderland. BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation) (19 June 2019). Retrieved on December 6, 2019.
21. ↑ Seasiders Sign Reece James. Blackpool Official Site (8 June 2021). Retrieved on June 8, 2021.
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## External links

* Template:Soccerbase
* Profile at ManUtd.com

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