Reece James departs Sunderland for Doncaster Rovers | OneFootball

Sunderland have confirmed that defender Reece James has left the club after one year to join Doncaster Rovers.

The left-back had initially given the green light to staying at the Stadium of Light but has now opted against that.

He has now put pen to paper on a two-year deal at the Keepmoat Stadium after just one year on Wearside.

James, who arrived last summer from Wigan, revealed that discussions he held with Grant McCann and Cliff Byrne were pivotal in swaying him away from Sunderland.

“I had a conversation with Grant and Cliff and they sold the club to me,” James told the Doncaster Free Press.

“The ambitions they both have match mine and that is to challenge for promotion.

“That made my decision an easy one and my mind was made up that I wanted to sign for the club.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity to come to Doncaster after playing quite a lot of games last season.

“I watched the games in the play-offs last season and they were really unfortunate not to go through, but as a team they were great to watch.”

The 25-year-old made a total of 34 appearances in all competitions for the Black Cats in his solitary season at Sunderland.