A massive new Chelsea contract worth at least £250,000 per week has been signed by Reece James.
The six-year contract signed by the 22-year-old will make him the highest-paid defender in Chelsea’s history.
James said, “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.
“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.”
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly said: “We are thrilled to give Reece a new long-term contract at Chelsea. He is an outstanding player and a true Chelsea man, and we are all looking forward to watching him continue to flourish at Stamford Bridge.”
Boehly is reportedly planning to implement a US-style contract structure for players under the age of 25, tying them to contracts for as long as seven years, according to a Sportsmail report.
Newest hires Wesley Fofana signed up for seven years, while Marc Cucurella and Carney Chukwuemeka agreed to six.
Armando Broja, who signed a new contract on Friday, also prolonged his time at Chelsea by six years.
James is now likely to follow with the finishing touches being applied to his deal today.
There are also discussions about new Chelsea deals with Mason Mount and Edouard Mendy.