James Alfred Connolly (born 2 November 2001) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a central defender for EFL League Two club Crewe Alexandra.

[7] Connolly formed a solid defensive partnership with fellow Championship loanee Connor Taylor, being praised for his composure on the ball and his ability to adapt to the physical demands of League Two football.

[10] He re-joined Bristol Rovers on a permanent deal, transferring for an undisclosed sum, in June 2022, signing a three-year contract.

[11] On 6 August 2022, Connolly scored his first goal since returning to the club on a permanent basis with the second in a 4–0 thrashing of Burton Albion.

[18] In January 2025, Connolly suffered a torn hamstring in Crewe's 4–1 win over Bromley, ruling him out of the first team for a few weeks.