Biography
In August 2016 City boss Mike Phelan plucked young midfielder James Weir from Manchester United’s reserves, a team he captained earlier in 2016. Weir was given a City debut in the League Cup but failed to impress Phelan and his successor Silva, spending the second half of the 2016/17 season on loan at Championship side Wigan Athletic, making 4 appearances. During the 2017/18 season James’ role was to support the first team during the first few months, but he picked up a nasty injury that kept him out of the side for over a year. Weir returned to reserve team action in early 2019 but was not able to break back into Nigel Adkins’ first team and he left City in May 2019.
James Michael Weir was associated with the youth team ranks at his hometown club Preston North End as a youngster before signing for Manchester United’s academy in 2008 at the age of 13. He progressed through the ranks at Old Trafford and made his sole senior appearance for the Red Devils in February 2016 against Arsenal. He left Manchester United in August 2016 to reunite with his former reserve team manager Mike Phelan at Hull City.
Weir spent the 2019 close season looking for a new club, in August 2019 he signed a one year deal for struggling League One side Bolton Wanderers. Days after he signed Weir debuted for the Trotters against Wycombe Wanderers but drifted out of the first team in late September. He made 12 appearances for Bolton at a time when the club’s financial collapse meant a scratch side was assembled to compete in League One.
Weir left Bolton in March 2020 and joined Slovakian Fortuna Liga side Pohronie, making his June 2020 debut against Hull City’s former Europa League opponents AS Trencin and scoring his first goal for the club a week later against SKF Sered. James had an impressive 2020/21 season, scoring seven goals in 34 appearances and earned a May 2021 move to Hungarian side MTK Budapest. His MTK debut came in July 2021 against Gyirmot FC and the last of his 16 appearances came December 2021 against Ujpest FC – he left the club in July 2022.
After a year without a club Weir joined Slovakian Super League strugglers FC Vion Zlate Moravce in July 2023 but after two goals in 16 appearances the effects of past injuries led to his retirement in February 2024. During the later stages of his football career he studied for a sports and business management degree at Manchester Metropolitan University. On leaving football he worked as an independent travel agent.
Weir was chosen for England under-age squads during the 2012/13 season. He made his England Under-18 debut against Italy in October 2012 and made a second appearance at level in March 2013 against Belgium. In November 2012 he made his only appearance for England Under-19 against Finland.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 4 August 1995, Preston
Hull City First Game: 21 September 2016, Stoke City A (League Cup 3rd Round), 21 years, 48 days old
Hull City Final Game: 30 September 2017, Birmingham City H (Championship), 22 years, 57 days old
Clubs
Manchester United (2011-2016), Hull City (2016-2019), Wigan Athletic (2017, loan), Bolton Wanderers (2019-2020), Pohronie (2020-2021), MTK Budapest (2021-2022), FC Vion Zlate Moravce (2023-2024)
Hull City Record
Career: 7 apps, 0 goals
James Weir| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016/17 | – | – | – | – | 1 (2) | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| 2017/18 | 0 (3) | 0 | – | – | 1 (0) | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| 2018/19 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |