Bristol City have announced the signing of Matty James on a three-year contract.
Ex-Leicester City midfielder Matty James, has put pen to paper on a contract with Bristol City which will run until the conclusion of the 2023/24 season – following the expiration of his contract with the Foxes this summer.
Manchester United academy graduate, James, failed to nail down a consistent starting berth at Leicester since joining the club in 2012. The English midfielder in that period completed several loans spells in the Championship and League One with Barnsley, Blackburn Rovers and most recently Coventry City.
James has told Robins TV that the “ambition” and infrastructure that the club have to reach the Premier League, made signing for Bristol City “an easy decision.”
“It was an easy decision. I'm very excited about moving forward with Bristol City and the ambition that they have is certainly something that brought me here. The drive and determination to move the team into the Premier League is going to be backed by myself. Said James.
“I'm so impressed by the facilities, the building (Robins High Performance Centre) and the set-up that Bristol City have got. I'm very excited for the challenge and moving forward.”
The understanding between Robins boss Pearson and James on the way they believe football should be played, from their time together at Leicester City, was also a key factor for James in his decision to join Bristol City.
“Nigel's not shied away from it. He's said it is going to be challenge but at the end of the day that's what life is about, about challenges and setting yourself goals and targets. Said James.
“Playing football with an ambition and drive is something that I want to do and with the gaffer – me knowing him and knowing what he's about – I understand what he's going to be looking for and what he wants to achieve. Hopefully we can achieve something that is quite special, and you don't often get to do that in football. That's (Premier League) certainly got to be a target, 100%.”
