In today’s market, this former Leeds United icon would be worth more than Daniel James.
At the moment, Leeds United appear to be on track for automatic Championship promotion.
After defeating Millwall 2-0 last time out, Daniel Farke’s silken Whites are currently at the top of the second-tier summit heading into the international break, having managed to dethrone Leicester City, who were nine points ahead of Leeds as overconfident table toppers in mid-February.
Daniel James has been in top form as the West Yorkshire titans take the second tier by storm, scoring his 12th goal of the season against the Lions to lead the Whites to another slick triumph.
It’s been a remarkable reversal for the Welshman, who was once on the verge of leaving Elland Road due to a lack of performance.
Daniel James’ Season in Numbers
Leeds fans apparently used to regard James as a big flop, a massive waste of money who had ripped the Whites off for an exorbitant £25 million – former defender Ian Harte reportedly stated in 2022 that he “wasn’t a massive fan” of the winger.
The Elland Road faithful have changed their tune after seeing their sleek number 20 emerge as a vital figure under Farke in the Championship.
Along with his 12 goals, which have helped Leeds win crucial games, the 26-year-old winger has also provided an amazing seven assists in all competitions, allowing Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville to run rings around stunned opponents.
According to Football Transfers, James’ transfer value has now decreased to €12.6 million (£10.7 million), indicating that Leeds overpaid to bring the Welsh attacker in, but no one at Elland Road is moaning about the ex-Red Devil’s position in the team anymore.
The talented speedster will try to become a Premier League hero for Leeds if they are promoted, hoping to etch himself into the Whites’ hall of fame, where Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink proudly dwells.
Joining Leeds for £2.5 million in 1997, the Dutch superstar’s low cost at the time would have made him more valuable than James today.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s transfer value in 2024.
Taking into account modern inflation, Hasselbaink would have cost Leeds £14.4 million if the move had taken place in the current financial landscape, according to TotallyMoney’s Transfer Index, which calculates what footballers from the past are worth today.
While that amount puts the striker-turned-pundit ahead of James’ £10.7 million assessment, it is still considered a bargain, especially given how prolific the renowned Dutchman was during a flourishing period in West Yorkshire before moving on to star for Chelsea.
The former Whites hero would score 34 of his 127 top-flight goals during two frantic seasons at Elland Road, propelling him into the top ten of Leeds’ all-time Premier League top scorers despite only appearing 69 times for the club in the league compared to his celebrated four-season spell at Stamford Bridge.
| Leeds’ all-time Premier League top scorers – top six | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Games played | Goals scored |
| 1. Mark Viduka | 130 | 59 |
| 2. Harry Kewell | 181 | 45 |
| 3. Rod Wallace | 178 | 42 |
| 4. Alan Smith | 171 | 38 |
| 5. Lee Bowyer | 203 | 38 |
| 6. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink | 69 | 34 |
| Sourced by Transfermarkt | ||
As shown in the table above, Hasselbaink is well-known in Leeds for his prolific and lethal attacking abilities.
According to TotallyMoney, Leeds would sell the 5 foot 10 centre-forward to Atletico Madrid for about £15 million, which would earn the Whites a hefty £51.7 million in today’s money.
James might soon join the list of illustrious names who have scored a slew of goals in the top division for Leeds, with the once-scapegoated 26-year-old already achieving Hasselbaink’s hero status outside of those statistics.
