Wolves seal big £10m transfer breakthrough in West Ham, Middlesbrough race | OneFootball

West Ham United and Middlesbrough have learned the transfer destination of Wolves target Jordan James for a fee of around £10 million...

Wolverhampton Wanderers are set to win the race for Middlesbrough and West Ham United target Jordan James.

The 22-year-old Welsh international midfielder has emerged as a target for numerous Championship sides following an excellent campaign with Leicester City last season, in spite of their relegation to League One.

It's been reported that West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Middlesbrough all want James for around £10 million, according to journalist Alan Nixon. The midfielder came through the ranks at Birmingham City but moved to Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais in 2024.

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Middlesbrough have been heavily backed to sign James after he bagged 11 goals and four assists in 34 appearances for the Foxes last term, but West Ham and Wolves are two sides in receipt of parachute payments.

Other Championship clubs could find it extremely difficult to compete with West Ham and Wolves if either becomes seriously interested in the same player. Both relegated Premier League sides are receiving substantial payments after relegation, while their existing commercial and playing revenues also give them considerably greater spending power than most rivals.

That financial advantage can translate directly into higher wages and bigger transfer fees, making it difficult for ordinary Championship clubs to win bidding wars when either West Ham or Wolves decide they want to join the table for a player.

Born in Hereford and joining Birmingham at the age of eight, it appears as though James wants the move back to the West Midlands via Wolves, with the latest transfer information revealing they are set to win the race over Middlesbrough and other secondn tier sides.

Journalist Alex Crook states that Cesar Peixoto's side are advancing in a move for the £10 million-rated midfielder ahead of their Championship rivals.

Jordan James' career stats so far as Wolves swoop ahead of West Ham and Middlesbrough

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James enjoyed a truly excellent 2025/26 campaign on loan at Leicester in the Championship, with his powerful frame and 6'0"-plus stature giving him the physicality to compete in midfield, while his energy allows him to cover ground and contribute at both ends of the pitch.

Crucially, James has also developed a real eye for goal, scoring at the rate of most strikers for Leicester, with only the 22-year-old and Abdul Fatawu reaching double figures for goal involvements last term.

Like West Ham and Boro, Wolves will know that his combination of athleticism, physical strength, and increasingly reliable goalscoring makes him an especially attractive midfielder with considerable room to develop before they make a potential return to the top flight.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are underrated and their midfield options highlight it

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On paper, Wolves already look like a team with a midfield capable of gaining promotion immediately from the Championship. They already have a midfield with an excellent blend of attributes but adding James only strengthens that idea further.

The kikes of Andre, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Marshall Munetsi, and Tommy Doyle all bring plenty to the table at this level, with Mateus Mane offering another attacking option further forward ahead of them in an exciting new-look team.

Andre is a class act and has both composure and ball-winning ability, Bellegarde offers pace and quality to carry, Munetsi provides power and athleticism, while Doyle can dictate play through his passing. James would add another physical dimension but, crucially, has shown he can contribute goals from midfield.

Mane then provides youthful explosiveness and attacking threat higher up. Collectively, Wolves would have almost every midfield quality covered, giving them plenty of options depending on the opponent. It could be a signing that tips automatic promotion more in Wolves' favour.