Exclusive: Reece James’s journey to Chelsea, finding his best form and taking the ‘next step’ with England at the 2026 World Cup

The Blues still have a chance to overtake Manchester City and move into second place in the league and move within three points of leaders Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea are unbeaten in their last four games in all competitions and James has played a key role in the club’s encouraging start to the season.

The full-back has featured in every Premier League game so far and is grateful for his journey with the club, from academy graduate to club captain.

“It feels great,” James told TNT Sports. “Since I came here at the age of six, it has been my dream to play just once in the first team and then play over 200 times and eventually become captain of the team.

“There are other players who have come through the academy and into the first team, so I try to help them as much as I can. I’ve learned a lot along the way and I want to pass on those lessons.”

It was only last month that James celebrated his 200th appearance for the club, scoring an assist and a goal in Chelsea’s 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest. This was another great moment in what has been a memorable 2025 for James.

The full-back won his first trophy as club captain earlier this year, helping his side complete the European set with a 4-1 win over Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League.

Chelsea backed that up last summer with a superb performance in defeating UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and winning the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

Highlights: Chelsea win big after sacking manager Postecoglou

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James has enjoyed success with the club so far, but admits the feeling of being captain of the team makes the experience even better.

“It’s so much fun to lift the trophy with Chelsea,” he explained. “There were some other moments during my Chelsea career where we lifted trophies, but I would like to put them in the same category.

“Lifting silverware at the end of the season is what every player wants.”

Chelsea lift Conference League trophy – ‘Maybe we’re seeing the first of many trophies here’

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“The only success for England is winning.”

James hopes the club’s success will lead to him winning a silver medal for England at next year’s World Cup finals in the US, Canada and Mexico.

The Chelsea captain started five of England’s eight World Cup qualifying matches, with the Three Lions topping their group without conceding a goal.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has great confidence in right-back James, and there is a possibility that he will make his first World Cup appearance next summer.

The Three Lions have fallen short at the final hurdle in recent years, losing in the finals of the last two European Championships and crashing out in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, but James is confident the team can go even further this time around.

“The World Cup year is coming up and it’s usually the year you see people performing at their best,” he said.

“It’s an exciting time. The team is great and the coach is great as well, so we’re all excited for the World Cup.”

“The only success for England is to win. We’ve been close in finals so far, so the next step is to get silverware.

“At Chelsea it is important to compete at the highest level and win as many trophies as possible.”

“Stack the odds in your favor”

James also got candid about how he overcame his own hurdles regarding his injury record.

The England international was sidelined a few years ago due to recurring issues, but he credits his family and friends for keeping him positive through those tough times.

“It’s very poignant,” he explained. “The main question is why? Why does this keep happening and what can we do differently? We often go back and forth.

“It’s very difficult to be out for three or four months and to come back after one game with a recurrence (of the injury) is not something that any player wants to do.

“It tests your mental strength, and I think the people around you always play a role in that process and help.

‘James is the best right-back in the world in perfect fit’ – Cole

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“It was more like two years of setback after setback. It wasn’t really a moment, it was more like a two-year cloud, and that was the hardest moment for me to overcome.”

Fortunately for Chelsea and England fans, James seems to be back to his best form this season and is trying to find his “best form”, although he admits he is still learning about his body.

“We tried different things along the way,” he said. “It takes a lot of trial and error to figure out what works and what doesn’t.

“I can’t say I do it much differently now, but I understand a lot more about my body.”

While he seemed to put injury concerns behind him this season, James wanted to send a message to other players who may be on a similar journey.

“I’ve been through a lot and I’ve had recurring injuries for a long time and sometimes it’s hard to get over it,” James added.

“I think there are many players who have gone through similar (situations) and are lost and in disbelief.

“Just get stronger, keep pushing and try to stack the odds in your favor.”

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