Chelsea captain Reece James has committed his long-term future to Stamford Bridge, signing a new six-year contract that ties him to the club until June 2032.
The 26-year-old, who has been with Chelsea since the age of six, extended a previous deal that was set to expire in 2028, with the club acting early to avoid the contract entering its final year and the complications that follow.
The new agreement aligns James with the incentivised wage structure implemented by current ownership and, notably, made him the final member of the first-team squad still playing under terms established during the previous administration. He is understood to remain Chelsea’s highest-paid player at £250,000 a week.
James said the decision required little deliberation. “It wasn’t really much of a decision. I came through at the club, I love the club. I’ve experienced winning here and I believe there’s a lot more to come in the future,” he said.
The academy graduate added that he had always wanted his peak years to be at Chelsea and expressed full confidence in the direction of the club from ownership down to the coaching staff.
James has led Chelsea 54 times as captain and lifted the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup trophies last year, adding to the Champions League and UEFA Super Cup he won in 2021. He has made 225 appearances for the club in total.
This season he has made 35 appearances across all competitions, starting 19 of his 26 Premier League outings, as Chelsea sit fifth in the table ahead of a home match against Newcastle United on Saturday and a daunting Champions League second-leg tie against Paris Saint-Germain next week, trailing 5-2 from the first leg.
With the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States approaching, James is widely regarded as England manager Thomas Tuchel’s preferred choice at right back, provided he maintains his current fitness.
Sporting Directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart described the signing as a proud moment for everyone at the club, calling James the leader of the team both on and off the pitch.
