Lauren James Completes move to Chelsea from Manchester United

Youngster Lauren James has re-signed for Chelsea on a four-year deal from Manchester United. A story we reported was brewing a while back. The attacker was part of the Chelsea Academy from her Under-10s to Under-14s but she left for Arsenal and then signed her first professional contract with the red devils. Injuries and Covid-19 have limited her development but with 8 goals in 14 top-flight games, you can see why one of the best teams in the world is gunning for her signature. James scored 14 goals in 18 league appearances pushing United to win promotion to the top flight of women’s football and she scored their first goal in the WSL. She will join her brother Reece James at the West London club.

On her return, James said: “It’s a great feeling to come back home, to a great club, the club I started at the age of six. To be able to play for the first team now and come back here to Emma and the rest of the group is a great feeling. I’m excited to get started and I can’t wait to meet all the fans at Kingsmeadow when the new season kicks in.”

Her coach Emma Hayes added: “Lauren is an exciting, young talent who we have admired for a while. When the opportunity came up to sign her, we felt now was the right time to bring her back to the club.”