A Sharp Rise To The Top – Justin's Leicester City Career To Date

First Team
28 Jun 2021
4 Minutes
To mark the signing of James Justin on this day (28 June) two years ago, LCFC.com looks back on some of his best moments in a Leicester City shirt.

Since joining the Club on a five-year contract from Luton Town in the summer of 2019, Justin has gone on to play 49 matches for the Foxes, scoring four times.

The full-back has successfully transitioned to playing on either side of the defence, as part of a back four or back five, with equal success, while also displaying his attacking qualities in advanced positions.

Here’s a snapshot of his Leicester career to date…

A familiar opponent

The former Luton full-back slotted home at Kenilworth Road to make it a Foxes debut to remember.

After leaving the Hatters, Justin’s first game as a Fox would be against his former club, in the third round of the Carabao Cup. The full-back’s swift return to Kenilworth Road would be a memorable one, as Demarai Gray broke the deadlock, before Justin scored on debut.

Following some neat build-up play down the left, Youri Tielemans received the ball and spotted Justin’s run in behind the Luton defence. A perfectly weighted lofted pass found the ex-Luton man and he guided home a first-time finish on the half volley.

With only six goals to his name in 90 appearances for Luton, it was perhaps a surprise to some that he managed to put his name on the scoresheet so early in his Leicester career, and it was followed by further goals from Tielemans and Kelechi Iheanacho to wrap up a 4-0 success.

Playing in Europe

The 23-year-old was in action against AEK Athens as the Foxes secured top spot in the UEFA Europa League group stage.

Justin enjoyed his first taste of European football in 2020/21, following the Club’s fifth place Premier League finish the previous campaign.

And it would be in a winning start to the UEFA Europa League group stage, as the former England Under-21s international came off the bench late on to feature in a 3-0 home victory over Zorya Luhansk.

His first start in the competition came on matchday two as Leicester saw off AEK Athens 2-1, before recording their biggest-ever European victory by defeating SC Braga 4-0 on Filbert Way in early November, with Justin once again playing 90 minutes.

Further starts followed in the remaining three group fixtures, as the Foxes finished in top spot in Group G.

Representing his country

A moment to savour for James Justin as he scores in England Under-21s' success at Molineux.

The 23-year-old had featured for several of England’s youth age groups before signing for Leicester, but it wasn’t until two months into his Foxes career, in August 2019, that he received a first Under-21s cap.

In the squad for two UEFA European U21 Championship qualifiers, Justin made his Under-21s international debut as a substitute in the 2-0 success over Kosovo on 9 September.

On the international stage, he played eight times for the young Lions over the next year and scored on his final appearance – during a 5-0 triumph against Albania in November 2020.

First Premier League strike

Justin celebrates his maiden Premier League goal against Burnley with team-mate Papy Mendy.

Hitting the net in his first game of 2019/20, Justin took just two games to find his scoring touch the following season. Having helped the Foxes defeat West Bromwich Albion on the opening day, the full-back was in the starting XI once more for Burnley’s trip to King Power Stadium.

And as the game hung in the balance at 2-1, Justin popped up with a crucial third goal. Dennis Praet found Ayoze Pérez, who twisted and turned in the penalty box before cutting the ball back for the defender to run onto and sweep it into the bottom corner past Nick Pope.

Leicester eventually won 4-2 as their perfect start to the 2020/21 continued.

Scoring against Stoke

Justin's team-mates congratulate him after netting a stunner at Stoke.

Justin may have been injured from the last-eight onwards of City’s historic maiden Emirates FA Cup triumph, but he still played a key role in Leicester reaching that stage of the prestigious competition.

The Foxes arrived at bet365 Stadium for a third round tie against Championship side Stoke City in January and the Potters were holding firm after 34 minutes in Staffordshire. It was Justin who then opened the scoring in spectacular style after receiving the ball on the left wing from Belgium midfielder Praet.

Cutting inside, he skipped past two challenges on the edge of the box before hitting a bullet of a strike into the far corner. It was an unstoppable effort and one that set Brendan Rodgers’ side on the way to a comfortable 4-0 victory.

The defender would also play in the fifth round success at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on 10 February, but it would prove to be his final game of the campaign after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury 75 minutes into the clash at King Power Stadium.