Rosenior welcomes ‘best in the world’ Reece James to contract extension

Chelsea captain Reece James signed a new six-year deal that keeps him at Stamford Bridge until 2032, with head coach Liam Rosenier hinting that the defender had options to leave the club before opting to stay.

The deal was confirmed by the club before Saturday Premier League clash with Newcastle. James, 26, became the longest-serving player in Chelsea’s current squad by some measure after joining the west London club’s academy at the age of six.

« I can’t stop smiling because we have secured the best player in the world in his position, » Rosenier told a pre-match press conference in Cobham.

« He’s had a lot of opportunities to leave this club. It’s not just about the size and stature of the club he’s come through, it’s about his belief and confidence in what we’re doing and where we want to go. We’ve had a lot of conversations about that. For him to sign a deal and believe in us is a huge step. »

Asked why he considers James the best right-back in world football, Rosenier laughed off the question.

« Do I really have to explain this when you see him play? When you see Rees from a distance, you admire him. He can play in many different positions technically, he can score goals, he can defend, his athleticism.

« The thing that impresses me the most is his humility. You understand why he has and will have the career he had as Chelsea captain. He will be our leader while I’m here. It’s been a really good two-and-a-half months with him. »

James’ previous contract was due to run until 2028, but Chelsea decided to renew it earlier to avoid the risk of him entering his final year – a vulnerability that previously cost the club when Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen left on free transfers to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.

« I’m not happy to extend my contract – Chelsea means so much to me, » James told the club’s official website. « I’ve always said I want my peak years to be here and I truly believe we have what it takes to build on our past successes. »

James looks to England’s success

Beyond club football, James has targeted England’s 2026 World Cup squad in North America this summer after missing the 2022 and 2024 tournaments through injury.

He returned to international duty earlier this year with appearances in the World Cup qualifiers over Albania and Latvia and played in the 2-0 win over Serbia at Wembley in November after withdrawing from a previous squad due to injury.

The new deal comes amid wider contract activity at Stamford Bridge. According to reports, James’ extension is expected to trigger renegotiation requests from several other key players, including Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Levi Colville.

Sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Lawrence Stewart said in a joint statement: « On behalf of the ownership and everyone associated with Chelsea, it is a proud moment for all of us to extend Rees’ contract. He is a leader of this team, both on and off the pitch. »