The Blues have announced a new six-year deal for academy graduate and now a key member of the first-team, Reece James. According to reports, the new deal makes the Englishman the highest-paid defender in the club’s history, with the 22-year-old being paid an estimated weekly wage of 250,000 pounds.
“I am over the moon with my new contract and I’m thankful for the fans, the new ownership, and everyone involved in the club. I cannot wait to see what the future holds, and I am sure we will have the chance of winning many trophies,”
he said upon signing his new contract.
“I grew up supporting this club and I’ve been here since I was a six-year-old. I put pen to paper on a new deal because this is the club I want to be at. I’d like to say a special thanks to the fans, I am here to stay and we have a bright future ahead of us.”
The player came through the Chelsea academy before breaking into the limelight during his first loan spell at Championship side Wigan Athletic. For the past three years, he has been a stalwart in the Blues’ first-team squad, first under Frank Lampard and later Thomas Tuchel. His sister, Lauren, is also a Blue, playing forward for the Chelsea FC Women’s team under Emma Hayes.
While James will continue his career at Chelsea for the foreseeable future, one player who won’t is Ross Barkley, after the club mutually decided to rescind his contract, making him eligible to sign for any team on a free transfer.
The 28-year-old has indeed found a new club; days after the end of the transfer window, he has signed for Ligue 1 side OGC Nice, joining Aaron Ramsey, Kasper Schmeichel, and Joe Bryan at the Sir Jim Ratcliffe-backed side.
Barkley left Chelsea with 100 appearances in the bag and 12 goals, having signed for the Blues from Everton in January 2018 for 15 million pounds.
