Leeds United winger Daniel James has described his 2024-25 campaign as a “brilliant season” and said the regular minutes he managed were “really big” for him as he looks to build momentum into the next Premier League term. James made 19 Premier League appearances for Daniel Farke’s side, despite missing around two months because of a hamstring injury, as Leeds secured their top-flight status by finishing 14th in their return season.
Speaking ahead of Wales’ summer friendlies against Ghana and Romania, the 28-year-old said Leeds had achieved their main objective of staying in the Premier League, but stressed that the club now wants to move forward and become an established top-flight team. He added that the playing time he received this season should serve as motivation and help him carry confidence into pre-season.
James said he has been especially eager to join up with Wales, explaining that every time he wears the national shirt he feels a strong sense of pride. He also noted that the end of the season has been important from a fitness perspective, after experiencing setbacks in recent summers. In the last couple of years, he has gone into the off-season with minor injuries, something he believes has made pre-season preparation more difficult. This time, he wants to finish the campaign fully fit and use the break to prepare properly for the next one.
The Leeds winger was also full of praise for teenage teammate Jayden Lienou, who has been called into the Wales squad. Lienou, 18, is yet to make his senior debut for Leeds but was named as an unused substitute in two Premier League matches in May. James said the left-back has had a strong season, has trained regularly with the first team, and has settled in well at both Wales and Leeds.
According to James, the experience will be valuable for Lienou, who he described as a player with a bright future. He added that the youngster deserves the opportunity and has already shown he is a top prospect.
Leeds’ season marked a successful return to the Premier League, and James’ comments reflect the team’s wider ambition to do more than simply survive. For him personally, the focus now is on staying fit, carrying the benefits of a consistent run of games into the summer, and helping both Leeds and Wales build on recent progress.
