Lauren James follows brother Reece in signing new Chelsea deal

Chelsea Women forward Lauren James has committed her long-term future to the club by signing a contract extension that ties her to Stamford Bridge until 2030. The 24-year-old’s previous agreement had been due to expire in 2027, but fresh terms have now been agreed to keep the England international in west London for the foreseeable future.

The announcement arrived on a landmark day for the James family, as Lauren’s older brother Reece – captain of the Chelsea men’s team – also put pen to paper on a new deal. The defender’s six-year extension will see him remain at the club until the age of 32, having seen his previous contract scheduled to run until 2028.

Lauren James first joined Chelsea as a youngster, training with the academy from Under-10 to Under-14 level before moving to Arsenal’s women’s set-up. She made her senior breakthrough with the Gunners in 2017 and later spent time with Manchester United, but returned to Chelsea in 2021. Since her homecoming she has registered 105 appearances and 31 goals, contributing to four Women’s Super League titles, three FA Cups and one League Cup.

Speaking after signing her new deal, James said: “I’m really happy and over the moon to have signed a new contract with Chelsea. It’s been my club since I was young, so I’m really pleased to have extended my stay here. I can’t wait to make more memories, hopefully have more success and win more trophies with this amazing club.”

Reece James, 24, has been with Chelsea since the age of six and has amassed 225 senior appearances since his 2019 debut. Appointed club captain in 2023, he has already collected five major trophies, including the 2021 Champions League, and believes his finest years lie ahead.

“I am over the moon to have extended my contract – Chelsea means so much to me,” he told the club’s official website. “I have always said I want my peak years to be here, and I truly believe we have everything it takes to build on our previous successes. I’m excited for the future under this ownership, sporting directors, coach and all the staff and hopefully we will lift many more trophies together over the coming years.”

The synchronous extensions ensure that both James siblings will continue to represent Chelsea through the remainder of the decade, providing a stable foundation for the club’s ambitions on both the men’s and women’s sides.