Chelsea fullback Reece James is set to sign a contract extension which will make him the highest-paid defender in the club’s history, according to journalist Nizaar Kinsella.

The Evening Standard‘s Blues correspondent has revealed that the 22-year-old will earn around £250,000 a week (£13m a season), over six years with an option to extend for an additional twelve months:

Chelsea owners make midfield signings a priority in January transfer window with heavy spending to continue

✍️ @NizaarKinsella https://t.co/9KtVfUh8J8

— Standard Sport (@standardsport) September 5, 2022

Negotiations with James only started a couple of weeks ago but, with both sides keen to get a new deal signed, it hasn’t taken very long for an agreement to be reached.

The contract is currently being looked over by lawyers but there is an expectation that the contract extension will be announced very soon.

James has been linked with Manchester City over the past year or so. The Premier League champions are believed to be keen admirers of the defender but the England international has never indicated that he wanted to leave Stamford Bridge.