Lauren James: Chelsea forward talks about League Cup-winning performances, new contract and Champions League quarter-finals | Soccer News

Some people are blessed with natural talent, but anyone who has seen Chelsea and England forward Lauren James knows that her talent lies in soccer.

The beautiful game runs through her veins. Her younger brother Reece is captain of the men’s team and the pair recently announced contract extensions with the Blues – and it is well known that her father is a UEFA accredited coach.

But don’t get me wrong. Her natural ability has been supported by years of hard work since she walked through the gates of Chelsea’s Cobham training base aged six. Talent is important, but like any craft, it takes a lot of effort to succeed.

It has always paid off throughout her career. On Sunday, she helped Chelsea win the League Cup with a 2-0 victory over former club Manchester United at Ashton Gate and was named Player of the Match. “Winning trophies is what this club is about,” James said of the win.

She scored a stunning goal in that match, her third of the season, prompting Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastre to describe her as “one of the best players in the world”. Experts say the 24-year-old has the potential to do so, and he’s already been talked about.

James always seems to be one step ahead. Not only does she have speed and skill, she can read the game a step faster than the players around her and can make decisive passes and movements that opponents struggle to keep up with.

At times she was criticized for not being defensive enough, but that has improved markedly over the last 18 months. In the League Cup final, no Chelsea player recovered the ball more than James (10 times). Putting it all together makes her unplayable.

But James, one of the coolest characters in football, rarely flinches on or off the pitch. When asked about the praise she received after Sunday’s game and about her talent, she paused thoughtfully.

“I’m glad to hear that, but I’m a very relaxed person. I don’t really buy into the hype,” James exclusively told Sky Sports ahead of Saturday’s WSL match against London City Lionesses.

“But it’s nice that people think so highly of me. I just have to be consistent with it and keep working hard and hopefully I’ll back up those comments.”

“I think football has become natural for me. I don’t really think about what I’m doing on the pitch, it just happens.

“If you think too much about football, you’ll probably end up playing the opposite of how you actually want to play.”

A talent like James needs space up front. At Chelsea under Bompastre, she has played primarily on the left wing (the position she believes is best), but is enjoying being able to find different areas that open up her skills to use them effectively.

She explained: “In fact, I don’t care about position as long as I have freedom. It gives me freedom to move. I play multiple positions in a game, but probably one of my best is from the left wing.”

“I’ve been very lucky in that respect because the managers I’ve worked for have allowed me to do that. Even with England, Coach Sarina allowed me to move around and get into the spaces I needed. It’s also a credit to the team-mates around me because they fill in the spaces when I’m gone.”

Given her obvious importance to Chelsea, it is perhaps no surprise that she recently signed a new four-year contract. This was announced alongside Reece’s own new contract, which had been planned together by the James brothers and the club.

Saturday, March 21st 11:30am

Kickoff at 12pm

“We’ve lived here since we were little, and it’s very unique to have brothers signing again on the same day,” she said.

“Playing at this level for the same club is special in itself, so it was nice for the family to be able to do it on the same day. Chelsea is all we’ve ever known.

“Even if I had to leave, I always knew I would come back to Chelsea. I just love the club.”

One thing James would like to improve on is staying healthy long-term, if that’s possible. She has struggled with injuries in recent months, which has affected her playing time for club and country.

In fact, starting for England in the recent international break against Iceland was the Lionesses’ first since winning the Euro 2025 final last summer.

“It’s frustrating when you get hurt. You definitely don’t want to be on the sideline watching, especially because you didn’t do it on purpose,” James added.

“I have a good support network around me and a good place at Cobham so I can stay on track. It’s also an opportunity to work on my other weaknesses (in terms of injuries).”

Chelsea will be hoping to feature James in their latest block of games, which play every few days in the WSL, FA Cup and Champions League.

The latter will face fellow English side Arsenal in the quarter-finals, with the first leg at the Emirates on Tuesday, followed by a rematch at Stamford Bridge the following week.

A similar situation occurred last year, when Chelsea faced Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals, but Manchester United also remained in the competition, proving the continued strength of WSL teams in Europe.

“I think this is a huge thing and it shows all the players coming in from Europe that they want to play in this league,” James said.

“This is an indication of the future direction and shows that WSL teams are reaching a later stage.

“I think it’s strange to play against an English team in the Champions League, but it has a special spice to it and it’s certainly a trophy that this club wants to win.”

More silverware is a realistic prospect for the Blues this season, and if all goes well, James will once again have a big say in their success.

Watch London City Lionesses v Chelsea in the WSL live on Sky Sports from 11am on Saturday. Kickoff at 12pm.