As England prepare to defend their European crown in Switzerland this summer, Chelsea veteran Lucy Bronze and 23-year-old forward Lauren James have formed a close bond that promises to bolster the Lionesses both on and off the pitch.
Bronze, a five-time UEFA Women’s Champions League winner and a cornerstone of England’s Euro 2022 success, first met James at St George’s Park during the youngster’s maiden senior camp in 2020.
Bronze had long admired James’s talent but knew little of her character. Reflecting on that initial meeting, she recalled, “I heard a lot about her ability as a footballer and stuff but didn’t know much about her as a person and yeah she was just cool, calm, quiet.”
Encouraged by James’s eagerness to learn, Bronze welcomed the opportunity to offer guidance to the youngster. She said, “She (James) texted me first because I think we had loads of meetings and stuff (at England camp) and there was something that she wanted to know some more about so she texted me and was like can I chat to you please?
"I just liked that she just wanted to be a better player - after three days at senior camp she was already like ‘what can I do to be better?’”
Their friendship has only deepened since they united at Chelsea, where the pair now play together week in, week out. Ahead of England’s Euro 2025 opener against France in Zurich on 5 July, Bronze, who has amassed 133 England caps and represented the Lionesses at six major tournaments, says her passion has never waned, with fresh talent in the squad fuelling her excitement.
She said, “I’m still just as excited. At each tournament there’s always new players who haven’t been before, it keeps you youthful and excited as well.”
James, whose exceptional form in 2024 earned her a Ballon d’Or nomination, will experience her first European Championship this summer. Having made her major tournament debut at the 2023 FIFA World Cup, where England fell to a strong Spain side in the final, she approaches Euro 2025 with her usual calm confidence.
Asked to describe her feelings, she replied, “I'm excited,” before adding that Bronze’s presence eases the pressures of tournament life: “It’s a long time away from home but it helps being with people like Lucy who keeps you going, who keeps the vibes, she said.
She said, “It’s a long time away from home but it helps being with people like Lucy who keeps you going, who keeps the vibes.”
Concerns over James’s fitness surfaced when a hamstring injury in March ruled her out for the remainder of the Women’s Super League campaign. Nevertheless, she recovered in time for Sarina Wiegman’s Euro squad announcement earlier this month and insists she is feeling strong: "I'm good, I feel alright," she said.
When asked if heading to her first Euros is at all daunting, James demonstrated her trademark composure, stating, “No, I wouldn’t say it nerve‑wracking - I’m just looking forward to it.”
Drawn alongside France, the Netherlands and Wales in Group D, the Lionesses face a challenging route to the knockout stages. However, under Sarina Wiegman, England’s blend of seasoned leaders and rising talents, epitomised by Bronze’s steady leadership and James’s fearless flair, could ignite a historic back‑to‑back triumph.
As Bronze and James continue to learn from one another, their partnership embodies the unity and spark that might just propel England to repeat their Euro success.