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Reece James Reacts to Chelsea Decision

2026-06-24 · Reece James · Transfer

Reece James is "devastated" by Chelsea's decision to sell Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid for £51.7m. The Blues captain spoke about the transfer, saying Cucurella is "one of the best left-backs in the world".

What happened?

Chelsea agreed to sell Cucurella to Real Madrid last weekend, with the Spanish giants paying a £47.4m fixed fee and £4.3m in add-ons. The left-back signed a contract with Real Madrid until 2032, ending his almost-four-year stay at Stamford Bridge. Reece James wished Cucurella "all the best" despite being unhappy about the transfer.

Why it matters for Reece James

The transfer affects Chelsea's squad, with James admitting he will miss playing with Cucurella. Chelsea's ownership group, BlueCo, has tweaked their recruitment model to focus on signing "ready-made" players.

What comes next?

Chelsea plan to sign at least two new players before the end of the summer transfer window, using the £50m earned from Cucurella's sale. The club has several key positions to fill, including centre-back, central midfield, and left wing. Xabi Alonso will work closely with the club's sporting leadership team to bring in new players. Chelsea's transfer strategy has been youth-centric since BlueCo took over in 2022, but they are now looking to sign more established players. The club's lack of mental fortitude and immaturity were exposed last season, and senior figures are looking to address these issues. Reece James will be hoping the new signings can help improve the team's performance. Chelsea have a number of targets in mind, but club insiders are keeping their cards close to their chest. The transfer window is expected to heat up when Alonso officially begins his role as Chelsea manager on July 1.

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