After signing a new six-year contract with the Blues, Reece James wanted to convey his feelings in an open letter to you, the Chelsea supporters...
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Chelsea is special. I’ve always known it. I’ve always felt it. And it’s why I had no hesitation in extending my time here._
_I’ve supported the club for as long as I can remember. My love has never changed. I have the same feeling wearing a Chelsea shirt as I did when I was six years old. It matters to me. Every time._
_So when I’m out on the pitch, battling for the ball or trying to get us forward, know I’m one of you. That I feel what you feel. I’m representing our club, just in a different way._
_So many of my childhood memories involve Chelsea. Our games meant so much to me. My brother, Josh, was a Manchester United supporter. Lauren and I were Chelsea. You know the finals we played against them over the years…there was a rivalry in our house!_
_We all lived football. Playing. Watching. Learning. My vision was always to play for Chelsea – even once would’ve been enough for me. So to have achieved what I have, I can honestly say it is a dream come true._
_But I want more – that’s the Chelsea mentality. It was drilled into me in the Academy. It’s what I learned from the legends of this club that I watched at Stamford Bridge. It’s the example I set as captain._
_I remember watching us win the Champions League in 2012. What a night. Didier Drogba, my childhood idol, helping us become European champions. Then, nine years later, I got to live that experience in Porto. Another dream fulfilled._
_I felt the same pride last summer. Winning the Conference League, my first trophy as captain…what a feeling. But we weren’t done; it’s that Chelsea mentality I was talking about. We go again. We push for more. And we became world champions._
_Lifting that trophy in New York is something I’ll never forget. It showed the world the best of Chelsea. It demonstrated what’s in our DNA._
_You, the supporters, are part of that. You make Stamford Bridge special. You drive us on in the difficult moments. Know that it is always appreciated. Know that it has been crucial to our successes._
_Personally, I will be forever grateful for the support you’ve shown me, from that debut against Grimsby Town to the present day. You know it’s not always been easy, and there have been challenges, but you stuck by me throughout. Hopefully, in the seasons to come, I can repay that further._
_My journey with Chelsea has lasted almost twenty years, but there is still so much more to come. I’m convinced of what we’re building here under this ownership, the Sporting Directors, Coach, squad, and all the staff. We all want more success. We all want to lift more trophies. We all want to create more lasting memories._
_As Chelsea captain, I’ll do all I can to make that happen. As a Chelsea supporter, I truly hope it does._
_See you all at the Bridge._
_Reece._