Jordan James has spoken warmly about his season at Leicester City, describing the League One club as one "he loves dearly", while explaining that the relegated campaign ultimately convinced him to move on rather than extend his stay at the King Power Stadium.

A player of the year campaign in a troubled season

The Wales international midfielder spent last season on loan at Leicester from French club Rennes and, according to the BBC, scored 11 goals in 34 appearances. That form was enough to earn him the club's player of the year award, an impressive individual return against the backdrop of a side that could not preserve its Championship status and dropped into the third tier.

"Leicester is a club that I love dearly, they gave me the most confidence to go out and perform," James told the BBC. "Obviously it didn't go the way I wanted it to [for the team]. Probably if we'd done a bit better I would have thought about staying, but obviously we got relegated so I had to look elsewhere."

That candour is notable for Leicester supporters now navigating League One. James was understood to be one of the more influential figures in the squad last term, and his departure at the end of the loan represented a significant loss of quality for a club rebuilding at the third tier.

Wrexham link had already faded

Before arriving at Leicester, James had been heavily linked with a move to Wrexham, according to the BBC report. The Wales midfielder confirmed, however, that those conversations never materialised into anything concrete and belong firmly in the past.

"That ship sailed I think. It was on last year," James said. "I'm glad I went to Leicester, I had such a good season. I enjoyed it so much."

The timeline is instructive for Leicester supporters: it suggests the club moved quickly and persuasively to secure James on loan ahead of rivals, even if the on-field results ultimately did not reflect the individual talent available.

Premier League offers turned down

James has since joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan for the current season, with Wolves holding an option to buy when the arrangement concludes next summer, according to the BBC. Speaking in a broader interview ahead of Wales international duty, James revealed that Premier League clubs had also expressed an interest during the most recent transfer window.

"There were a lot of opportunities. I had a lot of offers on the table. I just didn't think it was right," he said. "I didn't want to go to the Premier League and be in a losing team again. I've been in a losing team now with Birmingham and with Leicester. I want to win games."

The reference to Leicester is a pointed one. From a League One perspective, the 2024-25 campaign was, by James's own assessment, a positive personal chapter played out within a collective failure. His goals and energy could not prevent the drop, and his subsequent decision to prioritise winning environments over top-flight prestige underlines just how damaging that relegation season was on morale within the dressing room.

What it means for Leicester now

Leicester's supporters will read James's comments with a mixture of pride and frustration. The pride is straightforward: their player of the year turned down Premier League interest and chose his next club based on ambition and winning culture rather than financial incentive alone. The frustration is equally clear: a midfielder of that quality and goal return is no longer available to a club now competing at the third tier.

The Foxes, under their current management setup, have been working to assemble a squad capable of mounting a sustained promotion challenge. Replacing the output James provided last season remains one of the key tasks facing the club's recruitment team as the League One campaign progresses.

For the neutrals watching League One this season, James's glowing assessment of his time at Leicester serves as a reminder of the quality that can pass through the division, and of the fine margins that separate a memorable promotion from a painful relegation.

Frequently asked

How many goals did Jordan James score for Leicester City last season?
According to the BBC, Jordan James scored 11 goals in 34 appearances for Leicester during his loan spell last season, earning him the club's player of the year award.
Why did Jordan James leave Leicester City?
James has said that Leicester's relegation to League One was the decisive factor. He indicated he might have considered staying had the club survived, but the drop meant he looked elsewhere for a winning environment.
Was Jordan James ever going to sign for Wrexham instead of Leicester?
According to the BBC, there was interest from Wrexham in the summer of 2025, but James confirmed that link had ended before he joined Leicester on loan. He said he was glad he chose Leicester given the season he had there.