Chelsea Women have confirmed that Lauren James has signed a new long-term contract with the club, extending her stay in west London until 2030.
The announcement comes on a significant day for the James family, with Lauren’s elder brother, Reece James, also committing his future to Chelsea by agreeing a new long-term deal with the men’s team. The dual announcement underlines the deep-rooted connection the siblings have with the club they both call home.
Lauren James expressed her pride and happiness at extending her time at Chelsea, a club she has been associated with since childhood.
“I’m really happy and over the moon to have signed a new contract with Chelsea,” James said.
“It’s been my club since I was young, so I’m really pleased to have extended my stay here. I can’t wait to make more memories, hopefully have more success and win more trophies with this amazing club.”
Chelsea Women’s chief executive Aki Mandhar highlighted both James’ footballing ability and her identity within the club.
“Lauren is one of the most technically gifted players this country has produced, and Chelsea through and through,” Mandhar said.
“Everyone connected to the club is extremely proud of everything she has achieved in blue, and we’re looking forward to the next chapter of her journey.”
James’ journey at Chelsea formally began in July 2021, when she signed her first professional contract with the club after returning from Manchester United. That move marked a homecoming of sorts, having previously trained in the Chelsea academy from Under-10 to Under-14 level.
Her Chelsea debut came later that year in the UEFA Women’s Champions League against Servette, and she scored her first goal for the club in emphatic fashion in March 2022, finding the net in a 9–0 away victory over Leicester City. During her maiden season, she made 12 appearances as Chelsea completed a domestic double, lifting both the Women’s Super League and the Women’s FA Cup.
The 2022/23 campaign proved to be James’s breakthrough year. She made 33 appearances in all competitions and scored eight goals, five of them in the WSL. Her performances earned widespread recognition, including the Women’s Football Awards Young Player of the Year and the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year. That same season, she collected the WSL Goal of the Month award in February for a superb solo effort against Tottenham Hotspur, as Chelsea secured a second consecutive league and FA Cup double.
Her rise at club level was mirrored on the international stage. England head coach Sarina Wiegman handed James her Lionesses debut in a World Cup qualifier against Austria in September 2022, beginning her journey with the senior national team.
In June 2023, Chelsea moved swiftly to secure her long-term future, announcing a contract extension through to 2027. What followed was a season that firmly established James among the elite players in the women’s game.
During the 2023/24 season, she scored her first WSL hat-trick in a 5–1 home win over Liverpool in November and was named Player of the Month for that period. She added another standout performance in January 2024 with a hat-trick against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, her second consecutive treble at the ground. Later that month, two goals against Brighton saw her become joint-top scorer in the WSL with 12 goals from 11 games.
James also made decisive contributions in cup competitions, scoring the winner in the League Cup semi-final against Manchester City. She finished the season with 16 goals from 23 starts as Chelsea lifted another WSL title. Individual honours followed, with James named Chelsea Women’s Player of the Year, selected in the PFA WSL Team of the Year and included in the FIFPRO Women’s World XI.
The season was not without challenges. A disciplinary incident during a league match against Arsenal brought intense scrutiny, with then-head coach Emma Hayes later revealing James had been affected by public and media abuse during that period.
In 2024/25, James continued to demonstrate her importance to Chelsea despite injury setbacks. She opened her scoring account for the season in a 7–0 win over Crystal Palace. She later suffered a calf injury that ruled her out for an extended period, including Champions League action. Her return in early 2025 was marked by a dramatic moment, scoring a stoppage-time winner against Everton to secure a 2–1 victory.
Off the pitch, James launched a scholarship programme to improve diversity in women’s football, supporting young girls from minority backgrounds as they navigate the early stages of their careers.
Under new head coach Sonia Bompastor, James remained influential, contributing key goals during Chelsea’s domestic Treble-winning campaign and delivering a standout performance in a memorable Champions League comeback against Manchester City. She went on to feature at the Women’s European Championship in Switzerland, scoring twice against the Netherlands during the group stage as England lifted the EURO 2025 trophy.
This season, James passed the landmark of 100 appearances for Chelsea and added further goals to her tally, including a composed finish in a 2–0 win over Liverpool at Kingsmeadow. She now stands on 105 appearances and 31 goals for the club, having won the WSL title in every full season she has spent at Chelsea, alongside three FA Cups and a League Cup.
With her future now secured until 2030, Chelsea has tied down a player who embodies both their present and their long-term ambition, while Lauren James continues to build a career that has already left a lasting mark in blue.
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