Reece James gave his opinion on signing a new contract at Chelsea.
He has renewed terms with his boyhood club to stay on the books until 2032, remaining a pivotal part of the plans as the first team captain and the highest paid player in the squad. Even if the institution is no longer what the 26-year-old knew in his early playing days, the standards he sets have not dropped.
“It means everything to me. This club is all I’ve known. I grew up a Chelsea fan and my dream was to always play for the club. So, I’ve over the moon.
“The love I have for the club [was why the contract was signed]. I came up through the ranks here at Chelsea and my only dream was in blue and playing at Stamford Bridge. When I had the opportunity to extend, it wasn’t a question of thinking twice.’
“Going back that long, I never imagined it would go this way,' he said. 'Just playing once at Stamford Bridge would’ve been enough for me. So, to achieve what I have in my career has been a dream.
“There are a lot of people who have helped me get to where I am. My family: my mum, dad, brother and sister. My friends around me. They have all helped play a massive part in my getting to where I am today.
*“Coming through at Chelsea, you are drilled into winning at such a young age. Everything is about winning, whether it’s games or tournaments. It’s in our blood and DNA, and when we don’t win, there is upset and disappointment.*
*“I’ve won a fair few major trophies and they were great experiences, great memories. I hope to make many more. There are still trophies we need to win – we need to win the Champions League again, the Premier League, the domestic cups. I believe I can win all of this here.*
“My message to the supporters: I’m over the moon to extend. Thanks for all your support; you stuck with me when I had setback after setback over a number of years. Hopefully, I can repay you all.”