There is balance again in the Chelsea universe. Reece James has put pen to paper on a new six-year deal at Stamford Bridge.
The confirmation Monday afternoon did not come as a shock after reports had emerged late last week the terms of a new contract had been broadly agreed, two days after he was involved in Chelsea's 2-1 win over West Ham he officially becomes the highest paid defender at the club.
That last sentence makes complete sense, Reece James should be in the highest bracket within the current squad based on his output and quality. He is not only a crowning glory developed from the club's academy, but his influence has also become essential on the pitch. It is a little shock that the new ownership, led by Todd Boehly, is looking to offer Mason Mount a new deal as well. The other starring academy light since the summer of 2019.
READ MORE: Breaking: Reece James signs new Chelsea contract committing long-term future to Todd Boehly era
“I am over the moon with my new contract and I'm thankful for the fans, the new ownership and everyone involved in the club." James said following official confirmation of the deal. “I cannot wait to see what the future holds, and I am sure we will have the chance of winning many trophies."
"I grew up supporting this club and I’ve been here since I was a six-year-old. I put pen to paper on a new deal because this is the club I want to be at. I’d like to say a special thanks to the fans, I am here to stay and we have a bright future ahead of us."
The 21-year-old is arguably the most talented player ever to be produced by Chelsea and even if this deal is an investment in the future, it also is a valid reward for the quality James has shown already. James has been directly involved in more Premier League goals than any other defender since the start of last season.
A problem last season was the lack of balance within the club's expensive wage structure. Where both James and Mount, two of the club's most valuable assets, were earning less than players who were bought for large fees without the output to justify that expense.
The new ownership has clearly looked to rectify that issue with the new deal for James who this season can hopefully go to greater heights. James should be a major face in the present and future of the club, even getting a future captain shout from the club's greatest ever skipper, John Terry, only reflects the high regard he is kept in.
There is another factor to this that is highly encouraging from the club's new regime. It is symbolic that many of these new contract announcements have come only days after a highly chaotic transfer window. Armando Broja and Harvey Vale signed new deals before news of James doing the same filtered through.
Although the flurry of new expensive additions dominated the summer, it has also been a consistent theme since the takeover in June that investment in the future remains as big a priority.
That has been reflected in Neil Bath's influence over several eye-catching signings, with talented prospects like Omari Hutchinson, Cesare Casadei and Carney Chukwuemeka being bought from Premier League rivals and abroad.
The lucrative deal for James, whose contract was creeping towards the dangerous two-years left territory, showcases a decisiveness to resolve future problems now, rather than waiting for them to become bigger and having to resolve them when they are staring you in the face.
Although a new contract for an exemplary talent for James is not exactly a hard decision, it might have been easy to see this drag on, eventually becoming a full-blown drama with Europe's biggest clubs circling. The contract mess over Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen epitomised poor squad planning, eventually seeing the club lose two senior defenders for nothing to Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Boehly and co's recent decision-making clearly signify that the next six weeks are no longer the most defining part of Chelsea's strategy, it is about future-proofing and placing trust in your brightest talent which Reece James certainly is. This is inarguably the best bit of business done so far.
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