Dan delight as Leeds land winger at last
LEEDS have signed winger Dan James from Manchester United for a fee said to be around £25million.
The Wales intentional, 23, has penned a five-year deal after two years at Old Trafford where he scored nine goals in 74 appearances.
James has started two league games for the Red Devils this season – including Sunday’s win at Wolves – but appears to have paid the price for Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester earlier on deadline day.
James, who actually held talks with Leeds about a move from Swansea in January 2019, said: ‘I’m glad everything’s over the line and I’m excited to move forward.
‘It’s been a bit of a whirlwind for me, bit of a crazy time, but I’m here now and grateful that the club still believed in me from that time two-and-a-half years ago. I’m happy to be here and can’t wait to play in front of these fans.
‘It’s all happened in the last day or two, very quick. I got my head around it and this is where I wanted to be moving forward.’
Leeds director of football Victor Orta said: ‘The football department have been monitoring Daniel for a number of years and every member of my team has worked hard to get this deal over the line.
‘It is no secret that Daniel is a player we have been keen to acquire for a number of years and today we achieved our goal. As a player we feel
It’s been a whirlwind but I’m here now and grateful the club still believed in me
Daniel is an excellent fit for a Marcelo Bielsa team. He is quick, direct and works hard – we look forward to him joining up with the squad, finally!’
Leeds never lost their interest in James after their attempts to sign him two-and-a-half years ago – when they were still a Championship club – broke down in the closing stages of the window and he eventually moved to Old Trafford the following summer.
James started in all four of Wales’ Euro 2020 matches and will now join up with the squad in Finland for tonight’s friendly, ahead of next week’s World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Estonia.
James is Leeds’ third major summer signing after winger Jack Harrison’s extended loan deal from Manchester City was made permanent and left-back Junior Firpo arrived from Spanish giants Barcelona.