Lauren James signs new Chelsea contract until 2030
· Yahoo Sports
England forward Lauren James has signed a new contract until 2030 with Chelsea.
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The 24-year-old’s previous deal, signed in 2021, was set to expire this summer. The extension comes the same day as her brother, Reece, penned a new six-year contract with the west London club.
Since joining in 2021 from Manchester United, James has made 105 appearances and scored 31 goals for Chelsea, winning the Women’s Super League (WSL) title in each of her four full seasons as well as three FA Cup and one League Cup titles.
Having missed most of the start of Chelsea’s season due to an injury picked up during England’s triumphant Euro 2025 campaign, James has made eight WSL appearances, scoring two goals and providing one assist. She has played 14 games across all competitions.
Before agreeing a new deal, James was one of many players on Chelsea’s books with contracts expiring at the end of the season, including goalkeepers Hannah Hampton and Rebecca Spencer, defenders Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright and forwards Cat Macario, Sam Kerr and Aggie Beever-Jones.
Chelsea announced the departure of 31-year-old forward Guro Reiten on Thursday evening, with the Norway international joining reigning NWSL champions Gotham FC.
James is the second player to put pen to paper on a new contract with Chelsea since the departure of former head of women’s football Paul Green, following academy product Chloe Sarwie’s commitment to a first professional contract with the club at the end of February.
USWNT forward Macario rejected a contract extension last month, with a move to the NWSL looking increasingly likely.
On the extension, 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.”
Chelsea Women’s CEO Aki Mandhar added: “We are delighted that Lauren is extending her contract. Lauren is one of the most technically gifted players this country has produced, and Chelsea through and through.”
‘A significant statement’ by Chelsea
After the departure of Reiten, this is much needed good news for the Chelsea fanbase.
Lauren James remains one of the most captivating players in the WSL and indeed the women’s game. At her best, James is a revelation, but recent seasons have seen her plagued by fitness issues. Yet, when James has been available for Chelsea and England, she is often the creative pulse that can carve through even the most stubborn of teams.
James’ vision and ability on the ball, as well as her versatility across the front line but particularly as a roaming No 10, was one of the reasons Chelsea opted against strengthening in the centre of the park over the past few transfer windows, keen to leave the space open for James to occupy and define.
A contract extension is a show of strong faith from Chelsea that they see the creative future of the team still resting with James.
The extension is also a show of faith from James in Chelsea’s future amid a season of unprecedented turbulence for Chelsea, from sitting third in the Women’s Super League with a seventh successive title looking increasingly out of reach to the the exit of Green last month. How similar Chelsea’s squad will look at the start of next season remains to be seen but keeping James is undoubtedly a significant statement.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Chelsea, Women's Soccer
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