Reece James is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back or right wing-back. He plays for English Premier League club Chelsea where he is the club captain and England national team.
James’s pace and excellent crossing ability have in a big way made him excellent in the full-back and wing-back positions. He ranked among the world’s best full-backs/ wing-backs. The strong, swift and influential right-back is one of the best products of the Chelsea academy system.
Born to a former professional player and coach, Reece was introduced to the game by his father Nigel James in 2003 at the age of only four.
In his early teens, James extremely adored Didier Drogba and played as a striker while endeavoring to follow his giant footsteps. However, he moved to midfield and eventually to right-back.
He made his breakthrough into his boyhood club senior team in 2019. James is one of the world’s promising defenders. He has an exceptional first touch and is perfect in crossing, making him massively dangerous whenever he joins in attacks.
Reece is a elder brother to Lauren James, a Chelsea Women and England women’s national team winger. They are the first brother and sister pair to represent England in senior level in the contemporary age football.
Age and Birthday
Born in Redbridge, North-East London on 8 December 1999, James is 24 years old as at 2024. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius.
Height
The England right-back measures approximately 1.79 meters (5 feet 10 inches).
Preferred foot
The influential Chelsea defender is right-footed.
Religion
James is Christian.
Reece James Family
Reece is a second born of a three children football-loving family. The James have a Jamaican descent through the father.
Both Reece’s siblings are also football players. His older brother, Joshua James played for Readings. Their last-born sister Lauren James is currently playing at Chelsea Women in the FA Women Super League. She is renown for her athleticism, skillful dribbling and technique to open up opposition defenses. The young winger is among the best upcoming talents in the women football.
Reece’s parents are Nigel James and Emma James. Nigel is a former professional football player and a UEFA licensed football coach. He is currently a professional coach and the director of Nigel James Elite Coaching, a youth academy in south-west London. Emma works with the United Kingdom’s Nurses and Midwifery Council. Needless to say, these parents are extremely supportive to their kids’ career development and rarely miss their children’s matches.
Reece James Club Career
Early stages
Growing up in his hometown, Reece and his siblings, with their father being the coach would practice football at the family backyard. This would over time become an inherent fun-filled part of their life. As Reece grew older, he would join his brother and other boys from the neighborhood playing at a park behind their house.
At the age of six, the defender enrolled into a local club academy Kew Park Rangers where he started his career. It was at Kew Park Rangers where his ability to make impressive set pieces was first noticed by Chelsea scouts. Reece also played for Epsom Eagles (where Conor Gallagher was also his team-mate). He then played shortly for Fulham before joining the Chelsea academy.
It is at Chelsea development center where he became an academy talent. This was along with the likes of Marc Guehi, Jacob Maddox, Mason Mount and Trevor Chalobah.
Reece was part of the most successful Chelsea academy squad. It is during his time at the youth when Chelsea won both the under-18 Premier League and the FA Youth Cup in two consecutive (2016-17 and 2017-18) seasons. He captained the under-18s during the FA Cup victory in 2017-18 and was the Academy Player of the Season.
James turned professional with Chelsea in March 2017. In June 2018, he signed a four-year contract and was loaned to Championship club Wigan Athletic for 2018-19 season.
At Wigan, he was selected to the Championship Team of the Season in March 2019. He was as well voted Wigan’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year.
First-team breakthrough
On 25 September 2019 while returning from injury, James made his Chelsea senior debut against Grimsby Town. He scored his first goal and made two assists in the EFL Cup third round 7-1 win.
Reece became Chelsea’s youngest ever UEFA Champions League goal scorer, when he scored his teams fourth in a 4-4 magical draw against Ajax on 5 November 2019. In January 2020, he signed a long-term contract extension with Chelsea.
On 29 May 2021, James won his first ever Champions League with Chelsea, following a 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the final in Porto. At the end of the same season, James was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
He signed a new contract with Chelsea on 5 September 2022, committing to the club until June 2028.
However, a series of injuries have greatly impeded his career growth lately.
Chelsea captain
On 9 August 2023, James was named his boyhood club captain few days before the start of the 2023-24 season. Unfortunately, injuries have limited the passionate defender to only a few appearances in the 2023-24 season.
Reece James International Career
Youth
Reece has represented England at youth level from the under-18 to the under-21. He was part of the under-19 English team that won the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.
Senior
James got his first senior call up by manager Gareth Southgate on 5 October 2020. On 8 October, he made his debut at Wembley Stadium, coming in as a substitute for Kieran Trippier in the 58th minute in a 3-0 win over Wales.
He was named in the England squad for Euro 2020 and started in the 0-0 draw against Scotland. In October 2022, he sustained a knee injury while playing for Chelsea in the Champions League against AC Milan. This ruled him out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Reece James Honors
Chelsea Youth
- U18 Premier League: 2016-17, 2017-18
- FA Youth Cup: 2016-17, 2017-18
Chelsea
- UEFA Champions League: 2020-21
- UEFA Super Cup: 2021
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2021
- FA Cup runner-up (3): 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22
- EFL runner-up: 2021-22
England Youth
- UEFA European U-19 Championship: 2017
- Toulon (U20) Tournament : 2017
England Senior
- UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2020
Individual Awards
- Toulon (U20) Tournament Best XI: 2017
- Chelsea Academy Player of the Year: 2017-18
- 3 Awards at Wigan Athletic (Player of the Year, Player’s Player of the Year and Goal of the Season): 2018-19
- FA Cup Team of the Year: 2020-21
- PFA Community Champion Award: 2020-21
Reece James Salary
James is currently earning approximately 13 million Sterling Pounds annual salary (250,000 Sterling Pounds weekly wages) as of 2024.
Reece James Net worth
The Chelsea captain has an estimated net worth of over $10 million as of 2024.