Chelsea captain Reece James has committed his future to the club by signing a new six-year contract until 2032 when he will be 32 years old.
The 26-year-old’s previous deal was set to expire in 2028 and it is believed the academy graduate has agreed terms which will fit into the Blues’ wage structure.
Chelsea supporters will be thrilled that their skipper has pledged what should be his career’s best years to the club for whom he has appeared 225 times in all competitions.
Daily Mail Sport reported last week how James’ contract had reached a critical juncture. Chelsea’s ownership do not want their biggest stars entering into the final two years of their deals, let alone the last year, having previously lost Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen for nothing to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively so soon after their 2022 takeover.
Chelsea sources declined to stand up at the time that they were locked in talks with James, but did respond to our enquiries to explain they did not intend on losing any of their key players and that they were confident their captain was committed to their project, as we reported.
Reece James has signed a new deal with Chelsea, extending his contract to run until 2032
Attention will turn to James’s Blues team-mate Marc Cucurella, whose deal expires in 2028
Now, confirmation has arrived that James is set to stay, with the England international rewarded in part for having grown as a leader among the players. After their loss at Arsenal earlier this month, for example, he was the only one still stood applauding the away end while everyone else made their way to the tunnel.
James has won several trophies with Chelsea, including the Champions League in 2021. He is the only player remaining at the club from that triumph under the Roman Abramovich regime. James is likely to feature for Thomas Tuchel’s England at the World Cup this summer.
Chelsea may look at others deserving of new deals. As was the case with James, Marc Cucurella’s contract is due to have two years remaining on it as of this summer.
