29-year-old Clarke, who helped the Pirates win promotion from League Two under Saddlers boss Darrell Clarke in 2015/16, made 120 first-team appearances during his time at the Memorial Ground and is keen to prove his worth once again as he begins life as a Saddler.
The Aylesbury-born defender began his career with Watford before switching to Oxford United in 2007. After making thirty-six appearances over two seasons with the U's James joined Oxford City in 2009 and went on to make over 150 appearances over the next few years.
James would then go on to join Darrell Clarke's soon-to-be promotion-winning Salisbury City in the summer of 2012, where he would continue to rack up the appearances, making another 81 before he was on the move once again, with Woking being his destination of choice.
After one season and thirty-seven appearances James was soon back on the road as Darrell Clarke, who was now at Bristol Rovers, came calling, as he sought to add some familiar legs to his Pirates line-up.
With over 120 appearances and another promotion under his belt, James has opted to follow Darrell to the Midlands and will join the club as it looks to rebound from last season's devastating drop into the fourth tier of English football.
Speaking via the club's official website, James said; "I’m buzzing to be here. It’s a great project from what the gaffer has explained to me. The club have got lovely training facilities and a great stadium, and I am really happy to be here.
"I am a versatile player. In the last few seasons, I have played across the back four, predominantly as a centre-half, but I can do a job anywhere across the back four. I am somebody who will give everything for the shirt and for the club.
"In my only season in League Two, I was fortunate enough to be in the gaffer’s side that went up with Bristol Rovers. He knows how to build a good changing room and that is a big part of being successful.
"We need to kick on in this new era and hopefully, it is going to be a positive season."