---
title: "Leeds: Phil Hay calls Dan James transfer ‘baffling’"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-phil-hay-calls-dan-james-transfer-baffling/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-09-05T16:50:31Z"
modified: "2022-09-05T16:50:31Z"
---

# Leeds: Phil Hay calls Dan James transfer ‘baffling’

**[Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/)‘s signing of Dan James just over a year ago looks ‘baffling’ in hindsight, [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/3558221/2022/09/02/leeds-fans-discuss-the-brentford-game-with-our-writer-phil-hay/)‘s Phil Hay has said.**

### The lowdown

The Whites [paid £25m](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/this-is-a-happy-day-victor-orta-on-the-scar-of-2019-daniel-james-swansea-saga-and-the-player-leeds-united-have-just-signed-3366332) to sign the Welshman from Manchester United on the final day of the 2021 summer transfer window as director of football Victor Orta successfully negotiated the deal after previous heartbreak (via [Yorkshire Evening Post](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/this-is-a-happy-day-victor-orta-on-the-scar-of-2019-daniel-james-swansea-saga-and-the-player-leeds-united-have-just-signed-3366332)).

Leeds [had first tried to land him in 2019](https://theathletic.com/news/leeds-confirm-signing-of-manchester-uniteds-dan-james-for-25m/iFVDzfUmGO3o/), during his time at Swansea, but the deal fell through even after he passed a medical.

Just a year on from finally securing his services, though, the Yorkshire club have decided to send him on loan to fellow [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) outfit Fulham.

### The latest

Hay issued his verdict on the signing of James on [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/3558221/2022/09/02/leeds-fans-discuss-the-brentford-game-with-our-writer-phil-hay/)‘s matchday discussion forum on the day of Leeds’ 5-2 defeat at Brentford this weekend.

The journalist was left baffled that Leeds fought so hard to sign him and then disposed of him so quickly, stating: *“James just hasn’t worked, has it?* *Such a long pursuit, £25m last summer, fleeting impact and now, off to Fulham.* *Somewhat baffling when you think about the time and attention devoted to him.”*

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### The verdict

James is the third-most expensive signing in the history of Leeds United, as per [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/transferrekorde/verein/399), but he has not lived up to that billing so far.

The Welshman [scored just four goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/daniel-james/leistungsdaten/spieler/319301/plus/0?saison=2021) and provided five assists across 40 competitions in all appearances for the club.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”389016″\]

In summer arrival Luis Sinisterra, Leeds have another right winger ready to take his place. The Colombian has [got off to a fine start](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/luis-sinisterra/leistungsdaten/spieler/512385) at Elland Road, scoring on his first two Premier League starts after notching a goal and an assist against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup.

[Hay suspects](https://theathletic.com/3558221/2022/09/02/leeds-fans-discuss-the-brentford-game-with-our-writer-phil-hay/) that James’ career at the Yorkshire club is now over, even if there [doesn’t seem to be](https://motleedsnews.com/news/phil-hay-no-talk-of-fulham-obligation-to-buy-leeds-united-winger-dan-james/) an obligation to buy in the loan agreement. We can only watch with interest to see if the 24-year-old enjoys an upturn in fortunes during his time at Craven Cottage…