Bristol City have confirmed on their official website the arrival of former Derby County target Matty James following his release from Leicester City.
James had been at the King Power Stadium since 2012.
The midfielder helped Leicester to promotion, before keeping them in the Premier League and watching the Foxes lift the title during the 2015-16 campaign.
James, however, has largely been a peripheral figure at Leicester after making 27 Premier League appearances in the 2014-15 campaign.
According to the Daily Mail, Derby bid £3 million for him in 2017. A deal, however, never materialised with the Rams later signing Tom Huddlestone from Hull City instead.
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James was back in the Championship last season with two loan spells. He first joined Barnsley, before spending the second half of the campaign at Coventry City.
Now, the former Manchester United youth product has opted to re-unite with his former Leicester boss Nigel Pearson at Bristol City, signing a three-year deal.
“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,” James explained.
Derby wanted Matty James:
James was reportedly a target for former Derby boss Gary Rowett,
Rowett wanted to add more control to Derby’s midfield during his tenure at Pride Park. James, 29, is a creative player in possession and boasts experience at the top level.
The Rams could do with a player of his calibre now. While Max Bird, Jason Knight and Graeme Shinnie offer numbers in midfield, the trio lack that spark going forward.
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