According to Simon Johnson of The Athletic, Reece James has agreed terms with Chelsea over a new long-term contract, making him the highest-paid defender in the club’s history.
Chelsea Agree Long Term Contract With Reece James
Reece James has signed a 5-year contract with Chelsea.
He's blue through and through 💙 pic.twitter.com/MOLXj4BMme
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 5, 2022
Real Madrid’s Interest In Reece James
Chelsea has confirmed a new six-year deal with defender James in an official club statement.
The Boehly-Clearlake regime had made contract negotiations with the 22-year-old one of their top priorities since the completion of the take-over.
Read More: Chelsea‘s Overhaul of Academy Football
The negotiations for a new contract were seemingly accelerated as Real Madrid were reportedly waiting to pounce on the player’s availability in 2023. According to Goal España, the La Liga giants identified the Chelsea player as a replacement for Dani Carvajal.
New Deal at the Stamford Bridge
The Cobham Academy graduate is set to continue at his boyhood club for six more seasons. He has been a revelation for the Blues since his first-team debut. His immense performance in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City was the catalyst for his heightened reputation in English football.
Hey Blues,
I’m so happy to have extended my stay at a place that I can call home.
The journey to this point hasn’t been easy, but I didn’t quit.
Use this as your inspiration, if I can achieve my dream you can achieve yours.
Thank you all for your continued support.
RJ 🫶🏽 pic.twitter.com/lVfgbOldLM
— Reece James (@ReeceJames) September 5, 2022
When quizzed on a potential move to Real Madrid, the defender told BBC Sport: “I’d like to think [my future is at Stamford Bridge]. I grew up as a Chelsea fan and you know I made my name playing for Chelsea, the club I’ve always supported but I don’t see why anything would change. I play for Chelsea now and I’m enjoying it.”
James has already racked up over 100 appearances for the Blues and with this new long-term contract, he will surely increase that tally in the coming years.
He has established himself as a vital part of Thomas Tuchel’s side. He has improved the defensive side of his game immensely over the last 12-18 months, where he uses his physical stature to ease his opponents off the ball.
James reads the game superbly from a defensive and attacking point of view. He has one of the best deliveries from wide areas in world football. He is comfortable in possession and very rarely gets caught out. He’s deceptively fast and is more than adept at playing in midfield, where his impressive array of passing stands out.
