New Headline: Chelsea Announces Record-Saving Pact with Premier League Legend Lauren James

Since joining in 2021 from Manchester United, James has made 105 appearances and scored 31 goals for Chelsea, winning the Women’s Super League (WSL) title in each of her four full seasons as well as three FA Cup and one League

England forward Lauren James has signed a new contract until 2030 with Chelsea. The 24-year-old’s previous deal, signed in 2021, was set to expire this summer. The extension comes the same day as her brother, Reece, penned a new six-year contract with the west London club.

Since joining in 2021 from Manchester United, James has made 105 appearances and scored 31 goals for Chelsea, winning the Women’s Super League (WSL) title in each of her four full seasons as well as three FA Cup and one League Cup titles. Having missed most of the start of Chelsea’s season due to an injury picked up during England’s triumphant Euro 2025 campaign, James has made eight WSL appearances, scoring two goals and providing one assist. She has played 14 games across all competitions.

Before agreeing a new deal, James was one of many players on Chelsea’s books with contracts expiring at the end of the season, including goalkeepers Hannah Hampton and Rebecca Spencer, defenders Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright and forwards Cat Macario, Sam Kerr and Aggie Beever-Jones. Chelsea announced the departure of 31-year-old forward Guro Reiten on Thursday evening, with the Norway international joining reigning NWSL champions Gotham FC. James is the second player to put pen to paper on a new contract with Chelsea since the departure of former head of women’s football Paul Green, following academy product Chloe Sarwie’s commitment to a first professional contract with the club at the end of February.