Ollie Burke

Reece James, having played only 973 minutes of Premier League football in 2024/2025, has already doubled the amount of minutes he played last season. The road back to full fitness has been tedious and torturous, but the Chelsea captain is back, proving once again that he belongs among the world’s best.

Football runs in the family

Football has always been an integral part of Reece James’ life. His father, Nigel, is a UEFA-licensed coach, and his sister, Lauren, is also a professional footballer at Chelsea. Reece’s earliest memories are of playing football in the park behind their house in Mortlake with his brother Josh, sister Lauren, and dad every day after school. Reece is always proud to share that his father played a significant role in their early years of success. “My dad helped our football development massively. When you are so young, you don’t always understand what you are doing and it was just a case of doing what he says. But looking back, he has helped massively throughout our careers and even now he still helps us every day.

At the age of five, Reece joined his first grassroots team, Kew Park Rangers, where he played alongside children who were several years older. He briefly joined Epsom Eagles, alongside his former Chelsea teammate Conor Gallagher, before being signed by Chelsea at the age of eight. The dream career pathway for Reece was within touching distance, but it wasn’t always easy for Chelsea graduates to break into the first team. This all changed when Frank Lampard took charge in 2019.

FIFA transfer ban and the Academy revolution: How Reece exploded onto the scene

Following a three-year FIFA investigation, Chelsea were found guilty of breaching Article 19, which relates to the transfer of players aged under 18. As a result, the club was slapped with a £460,000 fine and a two-window transfer ban. One of the 29 contentious signings was Bertrand Traore in 2013.

Under the ruthless Roman Abramovich, Chelsea managers had free rein to sign as many experienced internationals as they pleased. However, following Eden Hazard’s departure from Chelsea to Real Madrid and the impending transfer ban, the 2019/2020 season looked bleak. Frank Lampard had to rely on the youth who had either been rotting on the bench or continuously loaned out, unleashing years of wasted academy talent. Reece James, Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori, and Billy Gilmore all became household names in a season that Chelsea fans will never forget.

Extraordinarily, the same academy products who were given a lifeline as a result of the transfer ban then went on to win the Champions League against Pep Guardiola’s Man City in Porto just two years later. Life works in mysterious ways…

Is the ‘football life’ really the perfect life?

The Premier League is renowned for its physicality and toughness, but I don’t think any Chelsea fan could have foreseen the sheer amount of injury issues that Reece James has faced at the club. Since the 2021/22 season, Reece has missed an astonishing 103 games due to injuries. Recurring knee and hamstring problems have kept him out of the side for extended periods, leading many Chelsea fans to call for his captaincy to be stripped or even sold altogether.

Reece’s mental resilience in battling adversity after adversity is truly remarkable. As a mental health advocate, he has openly discussed his struggles with the press and social media. After spending several months sidelined with damaged knee ligaments, which prevented him from competing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he then suffered a hamstring tear in the Champions League Quarterfinals against Real Madrid. In an Instagram post from May 29th 2023, Reece shared a page from his diary dated ‘Today 18th May 11:44 pm’ which read, “I try so hard but mentally it’s tough, super tough, and draining. The outside world thinks this ‘football life’ is the perfect life, well let me tell you it’s far from that. Many people won’t ever know what it’s like but it’s a crazy journey, full of highs and lows.” This stark reminder serves as a refreshing contrast to the often idealised portrayal of footballers on social media.

Maresca’s plan: Consistency & Management

Fast forward to the 2024/2025 season, a year of more hamstring concerns for Reece. However, since the turn of the calendar year, he has featured in 21 out of 26 games across all competitions. For many of these games, Enzo Maresca has often opted to play him in central midfield rather than his traditional right-back position.

Why? Well, because playing in midfield requires less physical demands. There are typically less explosive movements, compared to the constant sprinting up and down the wing of the modern fullback position. As a result, his game time has been strictly managed and he is often substituted on or off at the 60-minute mark. Maresca has always viewed James as a midfielder, dating back to his brief stint at the position during his loan spell at Wigan. His passing ability, physicality and technique are all vital attributes for the role and Maresca sees this as part of a long-term plan to help him learn the tricks of the trade. Ultimately, the manager believes Chelsea are a better team with him on the pitch rather than off it.

Reece James vs Trent Alexander-Arnold

Reece James possesses all the physical and technical attributes to play in central midfield or as a right-back. He boasts a strong upper body and is incredibly physical in both tackles and aerial duels. However, he is also one of the most technically gifted defensive players in the Premier League, creating numerous chances with his precise final delivery into the box. A prime example of this was the signature twist, turn, and no-look cross into the box for Marc Cucurella’s crucial game-winning goal against Manchester United.

One player that Reece James has consistently been compared to throughout his career is Trent Alexander-Arnold. The soon-to-be Real Madrid man is in active competition with Reece for the coveted right-back spot in the England national team, especially considering the dip of former right-backs, Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier. There are only 10 months that separate the pair; both have risen through the academy ranks and both have flirted with the midfield position. Reece James is more astute defensively, but Trent contributes considerably more offensively. The Premier League career comparisons below highlight this statement, but it’s also worth noting that Reece James has only had 126 career appearances in the league compared to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 258. The damaging injuries further accentuate the impact they’ve had on his career to date.

Captain, leader, legend

Following the departure of long-time servant César Azpilicueta, Reece James was handed the captaincy by Mauricio Pochettino for the beginning of the 2023/2024 season. Initially, he faced questions about his leadership, particularly his vocal nature on the pitch, alongside his long periods on the sidelines. However, he has now grown into the captaincy role. Despite being 25 years old, he is seen as a senior figure in this current Chelsea squad, which is the youngest in the Premier League. Reece is now a mentor to up-and-coming academy talent like Tyrique George, Reggie Walsh, and Josh Acheampong. He could easily follow Trent Alexander-Arnold and receive a hefty payday to cover his injury woes. But he remains committed to his boyhood club, just like the previous captain, leader, and legend at the club, John Terry.

With consistency, diligence and patience we will see the best version of Reece James as he enters his prime years. The 2026 World Cup is now only 12 months away. Former Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel, you know what to do…