James Justin
![]() Justin playing for Leicester City in 2022 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | James Michael Justin[1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | 23 February 1998||
Place of birth | Luton, England | ||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[3] | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Leicester City | ||
Number | 2 | ||
Youth career | |||
2005–2015 | Luton Town | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2015–2019 | Luton Town | 90 | (6) |
2019– | Leicester City | 63 | (2) |
International career‡ | |||
2017 | England U20 | 2 | (0) |
2019–2020 | England U21 | 8 | (1) |
2022– | England | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:58, 5 November 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 June 2022 |
James Michael Justin (born 23 February 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Leicester City and the England national team.
Club career
Luton Town
Born in Luton, Bedfordshire,[3] Justin joined Luton Town in 2005 and progressed through the club's youth system.[4] He was part of the under-11 team that beat Bayern Munich 3–2 to win the Aarau Masters in 2009.[4][5] Justin was called up to the under-18 team as an under-16 due to injuries to other players, playing at right-back despite being a central midfielder.[4] Following his breakthrough into the under-18 team, Justin also played regularly for the club's development squad that ended 2014–15 as champions of The Central League Southern Division.[4][6] Justin signed his first professional contract on 4 November 2015 which contracted him to the club until the end of 2016–17.[4] He was named in the matchday squad for the first time on 19 December, remaining an unused substitute in Luton's 3–2 win away to Exeter City.[3][7] Justin was a member of the under-18 team that won the Youth Alliance South East title and the Youth Alliance Cup in 2015–16,[8][9][10] and also reached the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup, in which they lost 1–0 to Blackburn Rovers.[9][11] He made his professional debut as an 83rd-minute substitute for Stephen O'Donnell in a 4–1 win at home to Exeter City on the final day of 2015–16.[12]
Justin broke into the first team in 2016–17, making his full debut at left-back in a 3–1 win at home to newly relegated Championship club Aston Villa in the EFL Cup first round on 10 August 2016.[13] He suffered a calf injury in the warm up before Luton's 2–1 win away to Leyton Orient on 15 October,[14] and returned to the team for a 3–1 victory away to Exeter City in the FA Cup first round on 5 November.[15][16] After making 14 appearances in all competitions during the first half of the season playing in a number of different positions including at right-back and as a left winger, Justin signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract to keep him at Luton until the summer of 2019, with the option of a further year.[17][18] He was named Luton Town Young Player of the Season, selected by the Luton Town management team.[19] Justin scored his first professional goal in a 4–1 victory away to Accrington Stanley on 29 April 2017,[20] but was stretchered off after he suffered an ankle ligament sprain in the following match, a 3–1 win at home to Morecambe.[21] However, he recovered in time to play against Blackpool in the play-off semi-final, and started in both legs of the 6–5 aggregate defeat.[22][23] Justin finished the season with 39 appearances and one goal.[16] On 12 July 2017, Luton rejected a bid of £1 million for Justin from Championship club Nottingham Forest.[24] Later that month, Justin signed a contract extension with Luton until 2020, with the option of a further year.[25]
His contract was extended by a further year at the end of the 2017–18 season after a promotion clause was triggered as a result of Luton's promotion to League One.[26]
Leicester City
Justin signed for Premier League club Leicester City on 28 June 2019 on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[27] He scored on his debut in a 4–0 away victory over his former club Luton in the EFL Cup third round on 24 September.[28]
International career
On 1 June 2017, Justin was called up to the England under-19 team for a training camp in Spain ahead of the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.[29] He was retained by manager Keith Downing for two further training camps,[30][31] but did not make the final 18-man squad.[32] Justin received his first call-up to the England under-20 team on 24 August 2017 for two friendly matches against the Netherlands and Switzerland.[33] He made his debut a week later in a 3–0 victory over the Netherlands, coming on as a substitute in the 74th minute.[34] Justin made his full debut after starting against Switzerland four days later, before being substituted on 62 minutes, the match finishing a 0–0 draw.[35]
Justin was called up to the England under-21 team for the first time on 30 August 2019 for two 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Turkey and Kosovo.[36] He made his debut as an 80th-minute substitute for the injured Max Aarons in a 2–0 win over Kosovo on 9 September.[37]
Justin received his first call up to the senior team on 24 May 2022 for the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League matches against Hungary, Germany and Italy.[38] He made his début on 4 June against Hungary but was substituted at half time due to injury.[39]
Style of play
Justin primarily plays as a right-back, although he has been described as being "versatile" and "attack-minded" and is able to play as a left-back, central midfielder, right midfielder and a left winger.[4][17][40]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 8 November 2022
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Luton Town | 2015–16[41] | League Two | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
2016–17[16] | League Two | 29 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 6[a] | 0 | 39 | 1 | ||
2017–18[42] | League Two | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4[b] | 0 | 22 | 2 | ||
2018–19[43] | League One | 43 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 4[b] | 0 | 52 | 3 | ||
Total | 90 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | 114 | 6 | |||
Leicester City | 2019–20[44] | Premier League | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 18 | 1 | ||
2020–21[45] | Premier League | 23 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6[c] | 0 | — | 31 | 3 | ||
2021–22[46] | Premier League | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5[d] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
2022–23[47] | Premier League | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 15 | 1 | |||
Total | 63 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 5 | ||
Career total | 153 | 8 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 197 | 11 |
- ^ Four appearances in EFL Trophy, two in League Two play-offs
- ^ a b Appearances in EFL Trophy
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
International
- As of match played 4 June 2022[48]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
England | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
Total | 1 | 0 |
Honours
Luton Town
- EFL League One: 2018–19[49]
- EFL League Two runner-up: 2017–18[50]
Individual
- Luton Town Young Player of the Season: 2016–17,[19] 2018–19[51]
- EFL Young Player of the Month: November 2018[52]
- EFL Team of the Season: 2018–19[53]
- PFA Team of the Year: 2018–19 League One[54]
References
- ^ "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ "James Justin: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
- ^ a b c "James Justin". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "James Justin & Frankie Musonda turn professional". Luton Town F.C. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ "European masters". Luton Today. 24 February 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ "Dev squad clinch title with six-goal victory". Luton Town F.C. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (19 December 2015). "Benson bundles in 100th minute winner at Exeter". Luton Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (13 January 2016). "Hatters U18s clinch Youth Alliance title". Luton Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ a b "Luton Town: Nathan Jones will not 'just hand' youth chance". BBC Sport. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (21 April 2016). "Hinds at the double as Hatters U18s clinch Youth Alliance Cup". Luton Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (24 February 2016). "FA Youth Cup: Brave Hatters U18s knocked out by Blackburn". Luton Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (7 May 2016). "Hatters turn on the style as they finish with a flourish". Luton Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (11 August 2016). "Hatters stun Aston Villa to set up Leeds United clash". Luton Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (17 October 2016). "O'Donnell's display praised after late call-up at Orient". Luton Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Cunliffe, James (16 November 2016). "Luton Town: Boss Jones 'showing great faith in me,' says James Justin". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Bedford. Archived from the original on 12 October 2017.
- ^ a b c "Games played by James Justin in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^ a b Simmonds, Mike (21 December 2016). "Justin pens a long-term deal with Luton". Luton Today. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ "James Justin: Luton Town's teenage full-back agrees new contract". BBC Sport. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^ a b Simmonds, Mike (24 April 2017). "Hylton cleans up at Town's end of season awards". Luton Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (29 April 2017). "Hatters hit four as they hammer Accrington". Luton Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (6 May 2017). "Luton remain hopeful over Justin injury". Luton Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (14 May 2017). "Cullen's treble seals first leg play-off defeat for Luton". Luton Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Mitchell, Brendon (18 May 2017). "Luton Town 3–3 Blackpool (agg: 5–6)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^ Street, Tim (12 July 2017). "Exclusive: Luton reject Nottingham Forest's bid for James Justin". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Bedford. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017.
- ^ "Luton Town: James Justin rewarded with contract extension". BBC Sport. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (16 May 2018). "Luton confirm new contracts for Potts and Sheehan". Luton Today. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
- ^ "James Justin: Leicester's Brendan Rodgers makes Luton full-back his first signing". BBC Sport. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
- ^ "Luton Town 0–4 Leicester City: Demarai Gray & James Justin goals ease Foxes into fourth round". BBC Sport. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (1 June 2017). "Justin earns England U19 call-up". Luton Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (15 June 2017). "Justin earns second England U19 call-up". Luton Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (21 June 2017). "Justin retained by England U19s". Luton Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (26 June 2017). "Justin misses out on England U19s Euro Finals squad". Luton Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (24 August 2017). "Justin called up by England U20s". Luton Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ "Young Lions kick-off new campaign with clinical victory against the Dutch in Telford". The Football Association. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (5 September 2017). "Justin makes full England U20s debut". Luton Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Kemble, Jamie (30 August 2019). "Leicester City youngsters called up by England youth sides ahead of upcoming internationals". Leicestershire Live. Local World. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
- ^ "Phil Foden scores two to help England U21s to 2–0 win over Kosovo". The Football Association. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ Veevers, Nicholas (24 May 2022). "England squad named for June's Nations League games". www.englandfootball.com. The Football Association.
- ^ "Hungary 1–0 England". BBC Sport. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- ^ Clapson, Sarah (13 July 2017). "Luton Town confirm they have rejected Nottingham Forest bid for teenage defender James Justin". Nottinghamshire Live. Local World. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ "Games played by James Justin in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ "Games played by James Justin in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
- ^ "Games played by James Justin in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ "Games played by James Justin in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ "Games played by James Justin in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ "Games played by James Justin in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ "Games played by James Justin in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "James Justin". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ Anderson, John, ed. (2019). Football Yearbook 2019–2020. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 210–211. ISBN 978-1-4722-6111-3.
- ^ Anderson, John, ed. (2018). Football Yearbook 2018–2019. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 214–215. ISBN 978-1-4722-6106-9.
- ^ Simmonds, Mike (29 April 2019). "Player of the Year Stacey cleans up at Hatters awards night". Luton Today. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- ^ Law, James (20 December 2018). "James Justin: Luton Town defender wins EFL Young Player of the Month award". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
- ^ "EFL Official Website - 2019 Winners". EFL.com. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- ^ "League One: Barnsley dominate PFA selection of team of 2018–19". BBC Sport. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Profile at the Leicester City F.C. website
- 1998 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Luton
- English footballers
- England youth international footballers
- England under-21 international footballers
- English sportspeople of Jamaican descent
- Association football defenders
- Luton Town F.C. players
- Leicester City F.C. players
- English Football League players
- Premier League players
- England international footballers