Reece James is arguably the most dynamic youngster at Chelsea football club and has established himself as one of the most loved football stars at the club despite being just 22-year-old.
The England international has been in Chelsea’s football system since he was 6-year-old. Hence, he has played virtually for all the club’s underage teams including Chelsea’s under-23 team.
Two months after James returned from a season-long loan spell at Wigan Athletic, the English right-back achieved his dream by gaining promotion to Chelsea’s senior team on July 1, 2019, under coach Frank Lampard.
Since then, James has been unstoppable as he has gone on to make 123 appearances in which he scored 9 goals and provided 18 assists in all competitions.
How important is Reece James at Chelsea?
Since the arrival of coach Thomas Tuchel as Chelsea’s coach, Reece James has maintained his position in Chelsea’s first eleven. Due to how important he has been at the club, Chelsea struggled a bit in the 2021-2022 season when he suffered a prolonged injury spell.
James’ dynamism is second to known at Chelsea. He is one of the few players who can play as a right midfielder, left midfielder, right-back, and center-back.
His abilities to move the ball, create chances, dribble, cross the ball into the opposition’s eighteen-yard box and also score goals have made him a jewel at Chelsea.
James has been so useful at Chelsea that coach Thomas Tuchel had to say: “I would love to have two or three Reece James. I see him 55% towards wing-back and 45% in the back three.”
Due to these abilities, Real Madrid are said to be very interested in Reece James as they are reportedly making plans to bid for him this summer even though he still has until June 30, 2025, before his contract expires.
But one thing that might prevent Real Madrid from signing James is the ambition of the footballer and that of his father, Nigel James at Chelsea.
What is the ambition of James and that of his father Nigel James at Chelsea?
Nigel James is a retired footballer who now owns a football training institute where he trains children and youths who aspire to be professional footballers.
Aside from that, he is known for being the father of Chelsea’s star Reece James and Manchester United’s female star Lauren James.
After Reece James played his 100th game against West Ham United on December 4, 2021, The Athletic asked Nigel James to comment on the feat. The ex-footballer said: “100 games… you just sit there and think, ‘Wow’.
“To do that at 21… some people play 300 in their career. But I’m not emotional. The part where I will be emotional is the day he becomes Chelsea captain. That’s his ambition and mine as well.
“Didier Drogba was a legend and so was John Terry. But Reece has been at Chelsea since he was six. There isn’t a player who has been there that young and gone on to wear the armband. The goal is to be the man that, when you hear Chelsea, you think Reece James.”
If these comments are anything to go by, Real Madrid’s effort to sign Reece James this summer might not work anytime soon.
