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Wales boss Craig Bellamy explains Jordan James' struggles after Birmingham City exit
Craig Bellamy insists Jordan James' summer transfer to Rennes was a 'smart move', despite the Welsh midfielder not having started a single game for the French Ligue 1 side.
James opted to end his long relationship with Birmingham City following their drop to League One and moved to France aiming for club success to match his international achievements.
The 20-year-old has quickly become a staple for Wales, earning 14 caps and forming a solid midfield duo with Ethan Ampadu since his debut in March 2023. However, at Rennes, James has only managed three short appearances off the bench and hasn't played since September 21.
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Bellamy, now managing Wales and including James in his squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Turkey and Iceland, said: “I’ve had little conversations with JJ. It’s always difficult for a kid or anyone who moves to a different country. It was the same with myself (in Belgium) the first couple of months.
“You’re picking up the language, but it’s just a different way of doing things. Even simple things like the food. JJ is in that period where he’s still a young kid. But he’s at a really good football club that develops young players and progresses them and I see it as a smart move.”
Bellamy's own experience with Rennes came during his time as Vincent Kompany's assistant at Anderlecht, which saw Belgium winger Jeremy Doku transfer to the French team in 2020.
Doku's move to Manchester City for £55.4million after three years in Brittany has caught the eye in the Premier League. Bellamy added: "I spoke to Jeremy when he went there and it was a good move. Alright, they paid £30million for an 18-year-old kid and we were never going to turn that down. But he got to play for Manchester City and that was the next progression for him to get there.
"I know JJ’s not getting game time right now, but in his future development this will be a really good period for him. I believe it will accelerate him and he’s going to be a beneficial player for Wales for a number of years."
Wales is setting its sights on promotion in the Nations League with upcoming key matches against Turkey on November 16 and Iceland in Cardiff, with hopes of either direct qualification or making the play-offs through a runners-up spot.
