'Consummate professional' - why James' deal makes sense

16-07-2025

Dan James' deal to remain at Leeds United for a further four years is a clever move by the club and deserved for the player.The flying winger's popularity has grown with supporters since he returned from a loan spell at Fulham, a deal that felt like he did not want but was the wish of then head coach Jesse Marsch. His assists and goal contributions since returning to Elland Road in the summer of 2023 have been impressive but more so has his attitude. The Wales international has never moaned about being cast out from the club he now calls very much home. It is a home of course from which he had the keys snatched in 2019 when at the 11th hour Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins refused to sanction Leeds' attempt to sign him as the January transfer window closed.This is a player who immediately after being present for the birth of his son in Manchester flew by helicopter to play 90 minutes and score in a victorious penalty shootout for Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds side at Craven Cottage in a League Cup tie.This is a guy who also bears the scars of playing for United. His tousled fringe can barely hide the huge wound on his forehead incurred in a head clash with Southampton's Kyle Walker-Peters in the 2024 Championship play-off final defeat at Wembley. Bloodied, bandaged but unbowed, James returned to the fray to almost take the game to extra time with a stunning volley that crashed off the crossbar.Having almost rescued that first full season under Daniel Farke, James was essential to Leeds' Championship title victory and a return to the Premier League the following year. What is more, with the club having to skilfully navigate the choppy PSR waters, the amortisation of the remainder of his original £25m transfer fee over another four years makes shrewd financial sense, as does keeping a loyal and consummate professional.Subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

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Ynysddu rugby team fundraising to play in Premiership

South Wales Argus

an hour ago

South Wales Argus

Ynysddu rugby team fundraising to play in Premiership

Theo Rushton-Marsh, who plays for Ynysddu BG Women, described her journey with the club as life-changing and is now fundraising to help cover the costs of competing at this level. She said: "I was so nervous about what our next chapter had in store for us. "But what I didn't know was that only down the road, at Ynysddu RFC, was the group of women who were going to completely change my life." The team secured an unbeaten Championship season to earn promotion to the Premiership for the 2025/26 season, and will now play in the top flight of Welsh women's rugby for the first time in the club's history. But Theo says the step up comes with major financial challenges. She said: "Competing in a women's National League means playing games with 10-hour return travel times, paying thousands per game for minibuses because we compete on Sundays, taking out private health insurance because it isn't covered by the club, increasing out-of-training fitness work because we all work full time, and purchasing league-appropriate kit, which for example would cost over £10,000 for just a 23-player team alone, and we have over 30 players registered." Theo has chosen to use her personal sponsorship appeal to raise awareness and funds for Platfform, a mental health charity working across South Wales. She said: "Platfform is a mental health charity that focuses on social change and community as driving factors for improving the wellbeing of those struggling by building authentic connection. "As a service provider, they work to keep people from homelessness, offer therapeutic alternatives to hospitals, and facilitate community projects and meetings." The fundraising has special meaning for Theo, who has spoken openly about her own mental health journey and the role rugby has played in her recovery. She said: "Throughout the years I have been playing rugby I have made multiple attempts on my life, been involuntarily committed to various in-patient stays, and was prescribed around ten medications to 'deal' with the symptoms of ill mental health that I was experiencing without truly addressing the causes. "I do not know where I would be today without rugby and my ever-changing and growing support system." Theo hopes the community will get behind her and the team as they step onto the Premiership stage. She said: "If you don't want to donate because my club is awesome and women's rugby is underfunded and expensive, and if you don't want to donate to support getting the amazing charity Platfform some free advertising, donate because I really love playing rugby with this team and I would really appreciate your support in getting myself to the Premiership through community fundraising. "I know money is tight right now and everything is just so expensive. But if you can spare anything to support me and Ynysddu BG Women – we will go and do our best to win the whole thing again." Donations are accepted through Theo's Go Fund Me page.

Fake sick notes, lying wives, tantrums, intimidation and massive paydays: Exposed - the murky world of footballers trying to force a move, why clubs are powerless and how to spot a 'transfer terrorist'

Daily Mail

an hour ago

Daily Mail

Fake sick notes, lying wives, tantrums, intimidation and massive paydays: Exposed - the murky world of footballers trying to force a move, why clubs are powerless and how to spot a 'transfer terrorist'

It's pre-season training at a big Premier League club a year ago. The sun is shining, players are laughing as they relive antics from the beach. Coaching staff are putting the final touches to their preparations. Optimism fills the air - with one exception. Within the ranks of suntanned and toned players is what, within football, is known as a 'transfer terrorist'.

I'm four weeks away – Tom Lockyer reveals he is closing in on football return

Leader Live

2 hours ago

Leader Live

I'm four weeks away – Tom Lockyer reveals he is closing in on football return

Lockyer has not played since suffering a cardiac arrest during Luton's Premier League game against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in December 2023. The 30-year-old Wales defender had previously collapsed on the field just seven months earlier during the Hatters' Sky Bet Championship play-off final win at Wembley against Coventry. A post shared by Sky Sports Football (@skysportsfootball) Lockyer, speaking ahead of Luton's opening Sky Bet League One fixture against AFC Wimbledon at Kenilworth Road, told Sky Sports: 'I haven't had a break, I've been working all the way through, just trying to get this ankle right and trying to get fit. 'But I've had a really good few weeks and hopefully now I'm four weeks away from getting signed off and told I'm allowed to play football again.' Luton, relegated in May for the second successive season, told Lockyer his contract would not be renewed when it expired this summer. But they have allowed him to use their facilities and work with their physios and medical staff during his rehabilitation. The former Bristol Rovers centre-back, who led Luton to Premier League promotion in 2023, added: 'They've been fantastic and have allowed me to come in and use the facilities and the knowledge of all the physios, so I can't thank them enough for that. 'It allows me to stay among the team spirit – there's a good one here. There's been a few changes, but they're trying to hold on to that ethos that no-one is bigger than the team and I absolutely love that. 'It's allowed me to go in every day, still be around it, still feel involved and I'm just itching to get back now.' Lockyer, who has had a defibrillator fitted similar to former Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen, snapped an ankle ligament during his return to full fitness, which required two operations.