The agent of Chelsea captain Reece James has reportedly been in touch with Barcelona and Benfica to discuss a possible transfer for the right-back in 2025.
When fit, the Blues academy graduate has proven his worth to the West London giants with 11 goals and 22 assists in 158 appearances, winning the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup in the process.
However, the 24-year-old has been bedevilled by perpetual injury problems ever since his first-team breakthrough, and he is yet to make a single appearance in the 2024-25 campaign after managing just 35 outings across the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
In total, the right-back has missed a mammoth 129 matches for club and country through injury or illness over the past five years, although the Blues hierarchy still saw fit to hand him a new long-term contract until 2028 a couple of years ago.
Malo Gusto has shown himself to be a capable deputy for James during the Englishman's frequent spells in the treatment room, though, and according to FootballTransfers, James could now take a different career path.
James considering Chelsea exit for health reasons?
© Imago
The report claims that James is considering a move to a warmer climate in the hope of finally putting an end to his series of muscular injuries, and his agent has now been in touch with both Barcelona and Benfica.
The defender has apparently been advised by medical professionals that playing in a hotter country could be a solution to his perpetual injury torment, and the intense nature of the Premier League has not helped his cause either.
As a result, James and his team are now weighing up a switch to a 'slower' division such as La Liga or the Portuguese Primeira Liga, with the hope that he will be able to finally put his fitness woes behind him outside of his homeland.
Even though the England international possesses a 'deep love' for Chelsea, whom he has represented since 2006, he may have to call it a day in the Premier League if he wants to keep playing at the top level and avoid early retirement.
Making the switch to the Iberian Peninsula could also help James force his way back into the England setup, as he remains without an appearance for his country since March 2023, having missed the 2022 World Cup through injury.
Is Barcelona a realistic destination for James?
© Imago
James's case is most certainly a curious one from a Chelsea point of view - given that he is their captain and under contract until 2028, the powers-that-be could be forgiven for playing hardball in negotiations.
However, the hierarchy should also be sympathetic to the situation of a player who has given Chelsea nothing but love and loyalty for nearly two decades, especially with his career potentially at stake, so they may very well be open to appropriate bids in 2025.
James would have to fight his way into the first team at Barcelona, though, as Jules Kounde and 18-year-old La Masia graduate Hector Fort are currently battling for starts at right-back under Hansi Flick, although James should certainly bump the latter down the pecking order.
A fully-fit James would almost certainly start over Alexander Bah or Manchester City loanee Issa Kabore at Benfica, though, and his situation is certainly one to keep an eye on as the market heats up in 2025.
James is expected to be back in full Chelsea training this week, though, and an appearance against Liverpool next Sunday has not been ruled out.
Ben Knapton
