Matthew James - Stats, Rating & Scouting Report

Profile

Full nameMatthew Lee James

PositionCentral midfielder

NationalityEngland

Age35

Date of birth22 Jul 1991

BirthplaceBacup

Height181 cm

Shirt number#37

ClubWrexham

More about M. James →

Central midfielder

Season stats

Full career & schedule →

8

Appearances

0

Goals

0

Assists

486

Minutes

Domestic-league season · Wrexham.

Performance data · by competition

Competition	Apps	G	A	Min	Match
League Cup	1	0	0	72	6.7

Career

Full career & schedule →

Premier League×3Championship×2League Cup×2

James's current-season form is down 85% on last season (Season 26→4), while his Rating eased 20→13. His peak season for form remains 2021/22 (Season 32).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Wrexham · 14th	8	0	0	6.92	20	3
2025/26	Wrexham · 7th	37	1	2	6.93	20	26
2024/25	Wrexham · 2nd	33	2	3	6.99	18	31
2023/24	Bristol City · 11th	37	3	0	6.87	30	31
2022/23	Bristol City · 14th	34	0	0	6.84	34	18

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 11 earlier seasons and 4 youth-team spells in the full career.

England · international

Side	Apps	G
England U20	3	0
England U19	4	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Career

Full career & schedule →

Domestic career

Scout report

Experienced headCentral midfielder

M. James is a 35-year-old central midfielder at Wrexham, rated 13 overall by Field Insider's model. A seasoned veteran, he has been a fringe squad member this season (23.5% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 1.3 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on James.

On the season, James graded 4 for current form (age-blind), on 0 goals, 0 assists and 1.296 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a drop on last season (Season 26 → 4). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2021/22.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 13. At 35 James is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 1.8 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Past his 2021/22 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2021/22Trending downStepped up 2025/26Injury-hit 2025/26

13

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

3.5

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

23.5%

Minutes

limited game time

1.3

Def. actions / 90

light defensive volume

Output in context · Wrexham finished 14th of 24 · a mid-table side

8

Apps

1.3

Def. / 90

3

Tackles

4

Interceptions

1

Clean sheets

1.3 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — light defensive volume, with 1 clean sheet across 8 appearances.

Watch points

Game time. Only 23.5% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Age curve. At 35, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 13 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as light defensive volume (1.3 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.6× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %23.5%

Available fixtures11 of 11

Goals / 900

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900

Defensive actions / 901.296

Player flow

Goal involvements0

Shot conversion %0

Shot accuracy %50

Pass accuracy %88

Dribble success %55.6

Cards / 900

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~6), then tapers with age. At 35, James sits on 1.8, past its peak and easing. The blue line is James's projected Rating — 13 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among central midfielders in the Championship with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Shots on target1

Shots2

Passing

Assists0

Chances created4

Passes319

Pass accuracy88%

Possession

Successful dribbles5

Dribble success55.6%

Duels won20

Duels won %54.1%

Fouls won5

Defending

Tackles3

Interceptions4

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards0

Red cards0

Transfer history

€1.3M total transfer fees · 8 moves

Bristol CityJul 2021 – nowFree

Leicester(back from loan)Jul 2021 – Jul 2021

Coventry(on loan)Jan 2021 – Jul 2021

Leicester(back from loan)Jan 2021 – Jan 2021

Barnsley(on loan)Oct 2020 – Jan 2021

Leicester(back from loan)Jul 2017 – Oct 2020

Barnsley(on loan)Jan 2017 – Jul 2017

LeicesterJul 2012 – Jan 2017€ 1.3M

Manchester Uniteduntil Jul 2012

Transfer history

About M. James

Matthew Lee James is a 35-year-old central midfielder who plays for Wrexham, born on July 22, 1991 in Bacup, standing 181 cm tall. He is from England. Wrexham currently sit 14th of 24 in the Championship.

This season

In the current season, M. James has made 8 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 486 minutes.

M. James's next match is on October 30, 2026, when Wrexham face Sheffield Utd away in the Championship.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates M. James at 13 with a Season form score of 3.5. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 7 career titles — among them the Premier League and the Championship. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 16 recorded seasons, M. James has totalled 397 club appearances with 17 goals and 9 assists for 8 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2020/21, with 38 appearances for Coventry.