Reece James Signs new Six-Year Contract at Chelsea
Last update: March 13, 2026
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Club captain commits future to Stamford Bridge until 2032.
Chelsea captain Reece James has agreed a new six year contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2032.
The 26 year old is a product of Chelsea’s academy and made his first team debut for the club in September 2019.
His new agreement, first reported by The Athletic, is understood to include an incentive based structure linked to both individual and team performance.
The England international is Chelsea’s highest paid player, earning about £250,000 per week.
James’ previous contract was due to run until 2028, making his renewal a priority for the club. He had signed that deal shortly after the takeover by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital in 2022.
He has started 19 of his 26 Premier League appearances for Chelsea this season and has made a total of 225 appearances for the club.
James helped Chelsea win the Champions League in 2021, as well as the UEFA Super Cup that same year. He also lifted the Conference League and the Club World Cup in 2025 and was appointed club captain three years ago.
Negotiations for the new contract are believed to have progressed quickly, with James encouraged by his recovery from a series of injuries that disrupted several seasons.
He underwent surgery in December 2023 in an attempt to resolve a recurring hamstring injury.
On the field, James has been effective playing both as a full back and in midfield.
He is also understood to have impressed with improvements in his leadership after facing early criticism under former head coach Enzo Maresca.
James has said that earning a place in England’s squad for the 2026 World Cup is a major goal, having missed the previous two tournaments because of injury.
He returned to international action in early 2025, playing in qualification matches against Albania and Latvia after a two year absence.
He later withdrew from the squad for October friendlies against Wales and Latvia due to injury but returned in November and featured in England’s 2-0 win over Serbia at Wembley.
