Reece James was getting shouts of being the best right-back in the world a few years ago, but numerous hamstring injuries slowed his consistent game time.
Now that he is getting back to speed and playing 26 games this season and 1739 minutes so far, some speculate he is getting back to his form from a few years ago.
Since the 2021/2022 season, he has faced seven hamstring injuries, which have kept him out for 261+ days.
In this Reece James scout report, we will take a look at how he is fitting into Enzo Maresca’s tactics, where he could slot into for the England squad as the 2026 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner, and if he can get back to his prime from a few years ago, or if that is just the past.
Once a player at the top of his game, having won the Champions League and been called the best defender in the world, he is now being questioned about whether he can stay healthy and return to that level.
Reece James Injury History
Reece James’ injury history is not too pretty, especially for someone looking for a big contract and a long-term deal, as it poses a business risk to Chelsea’s owners.
Missing so many games over the last number of seasons has sparked many debates online.
Some say availability is the best ability.
With more games introduced in calendar years and more tournaments, Blues coaches are keeping a close eye on him and making sure he is not playing excessive minutes.
Reece James Stats
His technical ability has not changed, and he is still a high-percentage passer, ranking in the 93rd percentile for received passes per 90, the 94th percentile for pass accuracy percentage, and the 93rd percentile for passes per 90.
He ranks quite low in progressive passes per 90 and in his defensive duel statistics; the latter was never the highest in other years, either.
But his 2023 radar map ranks him in the 85th percentile for progressive passes per 90, which is much higher than what we see now.
Reece James Pizza Chart 2025/2026
Reece James Build-Up Play
Chelsea likes to build from the back with a back three and two midfielders playing inside as the sixes and deep-lying playmakers.
Reece James, the one on the ball, is tasked with being one of those players.
He inverts from the right-back position inside to help break up the lines and play forward alongside another midfielder, usually Moisés Caicedo.
If the other wing-back decides to invert rather than play as part of the back three, Reece James will drop between the centre-backs, play as the middle centre-back, and look to progress play.
Reece James In The Final Third
This is typically where you will find Reece James in the final third, to the right of the penalty box, a few yards out, and looking to swing a cross into the box.
His crossing ability is world-class, and when he is in these positions, there is a high chance he is sending in a very dangerous cross.
He averages 4.52 crosses per 90 this season, which is on the low end compared to his other seasons, when it was closer to 6 per 90.
If he is not near the edge of the box, he is looking to make an overlapping run in behind and try to get a low cross in.
These are the two scenarios you will see Reece James in: at the edge of the box, looking for an inswinging cross, or on an overlapping run looking to play a low cross in.
Reece James Defensive Duels
There is a reason why, when we looked at his defensive duel percentiles on the radar map, Reece James ranked very low.
He often is too jumpy and is looking to sweep in with his eyes only on the ball.
His understanding of spacing and timing in defensive duels is off, as he moves too fast to comprehend the player’s actions.
As in the image above, he jumps in too quickly, even though there is plenty of space for the attacker to get by him.
The attacker can easily take the ball right by him with all that green space.
In the next frame, you can see him again; the white arrow points to him behind the Serbian player.
He jumps into the challenge too quickly, looking only at the ball, and lands his feet in the wrong spot.
The player gets by him very easily.
Reece James Aerial Duels
He ranks quite highly in aerial duels, in the 86th percentile for aerial duels per 90 and the 77th percentile for aerial duels won per cent.
His timing in aerial duels is fine, which is quite interesting, as his timing in ground duels is much worse.
It makes more sense that someone’s ground duels would be better, as being in the air is a scarier action, and the timing and speed of the ball is harder to track.
Reece James In The England Squad
It is hard to imagine how Thomas Tuchel will play him in the England squad.
The coach very much likes the player from his old tenure at Chelsea.
Still, England has many players who can play that deep-lying playmaker role, like Trent Alexander-Arnold starting at right-back and inverting, or Declan Rice or Jude Bellingham dropping deep there to help build-up play.
He would be a liability in defensive duels down the wing if they run into a good side in the World Cup, but his crossing ability can be an added threat to the England squad.
Is it needed?
Trent has the same crossing threat, and there is no need for two players with world-class crossing ability, because England does not have the players to get on the other end of a cross unless it is a set-piece where the defenders can get forward.
In my opinion, it would be more beneficial for him to come off the bench as a super sub, who can slot into midfield or as a wing back, but there is better defensive stability if he is not in the starting XI.
Ultimately, Thomas Tuchel will conclude his lineups for the World Cup and what he is looking for.
Conclusion
If Reece James can stay healthy, he can return to being in the conversation of a top wing-back in the world, but a lot of time has passed from his younger days when he won the UEFA Champions League, and some players are just naturally more injury-prone.
If the injuries persist, Chelsea may consider dropping the player at some point.
So far, he is getting up to speed and focusing on staying fit, with some good performances that could earn him a call-up to the World Cup and a chance to earn a starting spot.
His crossing ability is still great, and he is playing an important role that he can further develop by inverting into a deep-lying playmaker.
His defensive duels have not improved; they have actually regressed.
Understanding of timing and space is not there yet, even against mid-table clubs.
Can he reach his old level?
That seems very possible if he stays fit, but can he reach the potential he had back then?
That is a more difficult question.
