Reece James has committed his future to Chelsea, signing a new deal that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until June 2032 and drawing a line under months of speculation about where England’s first-choice right-back would end up.
James, 26, had two years remaining on his previous contract, which was set to expire in June 2028.
The fresh agreement brings him fully in line with the better wage structure that Chelsea’s current ownership introduced after the Todd Boehly-led consortium took over in 2022.
He was the last first-team player still on terms from the previous regime, a situation the club had been looking to resolve for some time.
The captain grew up at Cobham, joining Chelsea’s development centre at the age of six and working through every level of the academy before breaking into the first team under Frank Lampard in 2019.
He has made over 300 appearances for the club, won five major trophies, including the 2021 Champions League, and captained the side on more than 50 occasions.
This season has been one of his most consistent, starting 19 Premier League games, the most since 2021/22, after years disrupted by serious injury.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein broke the news, and James himself also confirmed it.
“I am over the moon to have extended my contract. Chelsea means so much to me. I have always said I want my peak years to be here, and I truly believe we have everything it takes to build on our previous successes,” the England international told Sky Sports.
Real Madrid had been linked with James in previous windows, but those reports cooled after his injury issues and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s arrival at the Bernabeu last summer.
Coach Liam Rosenior has built his plans around James, and this contract removes any doubt about where he stands.
