"I signed my first professional contract when I was 17. It was a dream come true. I wanted to be a professional ever since I was a young boy here. I was over the moon and my family were very happy as well," Reece James told Chelseafc.com.
"When I went on loan to Wigan in 2018 I was nervous, uncomfortable. I didn’t know anyone and I was far from home. I lived in Bolton which is very different to Cobham, and it took a lot to get used to. But the set of lads there helped me a lot, and week by week I grew.
"The step-up from Academy football to senior football is huge. It’s so different when you are playing with people who are older. I was only 18 at the time and playing against older players who have families and wives.
"When I came back from Wigan, truthfully I thought I might have to do one more season at a Premier League team before I got my chance at Chelsea. But it came sooner than I expected and I’m thankful to Frank Lampard for giving me that chance.
"It was a dream come true to make my debut at Stamford Bridge and to score as well. It was a bit surreal walking out to Stamford Bridge and scoring and getting a couple of assists. I was speechless."
2 seasons down the line, Reece has made 86 appearances for the Blues. He stepped up his game under Thomas Tuchel and is now a first-team regular.
Aged only 21, we're sure that the best of the right-back is yet to come. We can't wait to see how much better he gets and since he loves Chelsea so much, this is a match made in heaven!
