Jordan James exit twist at Leicester City emerges | OneFootball

The Foxes kept hold of their midfield ace in the January transfer window through one excellent decision.

The January transfer window was an incredibly difficult time for Leicester City, and while they left it late to bring new faces to the King Power Stadium, it was their ability to keep hold of one of their key players that was most impressive.

The Foxes find themselves in a relegation scrap at the bottom of the Championship table, after they were deducted six points on Thursday for breaching EFL profit & sustainability rules during their title-winning campaign in 2023/24 under Enzo Maresca.

The East Midlands outfit are out of the relegation zone on goal difference alone, with their 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon putting huge pressure on their upcoming home clash against Southampton on Tuesday evening.

Nevertheless, they head into their final 16 games of the season with star man Jordan James still at the club, despite a flurry of winter interest in the player, and it has now emerged how Leicester managed to keep hold of him.

Leicester City hold a significant clause in Jordan James' loan deal

According to Alan Nixon, several other teams were looking at purchasing the midfielder from his parent club Stade Rennais in the January transfer window.

However, Leicester were able to keep James at the King Power Stadium as they have an option to buy the 21-year-old at the end of the season if they so desire.

James joined the Foxes at the start of the campaign with the expectation that they would be fighting at the top of the league table for promotion back to the Premier League. There was also interest from top flight clubs, but it was the Championship side who won the battle for the ex-Birmingham man.

Despite this clause, Leicester's lowly league position may be a sticking point in any future negotiations with the player and with the threat of relegation, his future may still not lie in LE2.

Jordan James has been exceptional for Leicester City in 2025/26

While James is currently out of action with a hamstring injury, when he has been on the pitch for the Foxes this season, he has been one of very few bright sparks.

With nine goals and three assists to his name in just 24 Championship matches, it is no surprise to see why Leicester were so keen to keep hold of him in January, and he would be a superb permanent addition in the summer.

Yet, the club have been working under a more stringent budget recently, and with their current position with the EFL, spending a significant transfer fee on James could be all but impossible and this loan spell may be their only taste of the goalscoring sensation.

For Leicester, survival is vital and they cannot find themselves in League One next season. If they do, then signing the 21-year-old will be at the bottom of their priority list.