Chelsea defender, Reece James has signed a new six-year contract at Chelsea until June 2028.
James first joined Chelsea at the age of six-years-old and has gone to graduate through the club’s youth academy, which led to his breathrough senior debut in a 7-1 home victory over Grimsby Town in September 2019 in the Third Round of 2019-20 Carabao Cup.
The 22 year-old defender – who primarily plays at fullback – has since gone on to record 10 goals in 128 first-team appearances for the Blues, after having netted three goals in 46 appearances on loan at Wigan Athletic in 2018-19 season.
Speaking about his decision to sign a new contract, James commented: “I am over the moon with my new contract and I’m thankful for the fans, the new ownership and everyone involved in the club. I cannot wait to see what the future holds, and I am sure we will have the chance of winning many trophies.”
James has supported the club throughout his childhood and iterated that he believes that Chelsea is the right club for his long-term ambitions, as he acknowledged support of fans as he said: “I’d like to say a special thanks to the fans, I am here to stay and we have a bright future ahead of us.”
Chelsea Chairman, Todd Boehly meanwhile is “thrilled” to tie James down on a new long-term deal, as he commented: “He is an outstanding player and a true Chelsea man, and we are all looking forward to watching him continue to flourish at Stamford Bridge.”
Co-controlling owners, Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano added that James has demonstrated that he “… is a very special footballer…” given his unique “blend of physical and technical ability” which will be a “huge asset” to the club over the coming seasons.
During his time at Stamford Bridge, James helped Chelsea win 2020-21 UEFA Champions League and 2021 UEFA Super Cup titles.
James also represents England at international level, having gained 13 senior caps since he made his debut in October 2020, as a replacement for Raheem Sterling, who this summer joined Chelsea from Manchester City and became James’ teammate for both club and country.
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