Lauren James: Chelsea complete signing of Manchester United striker on four-year contract | Football News

Chelsea have completed a four-year deal from Manchester United following the signing of Lauren James.

Sky Sports News understands that the deal for the forward – the largest among clubs in the Women’s Super League (WSL) – is with a bonus of up to £ 200,000. The initial payment is in the region of £ 70,000.

One reason for the transfer was the 19-year-old’s desire to return to the south to get closer to his family. His brother Reese plays for Chelsea.

While signing WSL champions James said: “It’s a great feeling to be back home, to a great club, a club that I started when I was six years old. Now I can play in the first team and come back here. Emma and the rest of the team feel good.

“I’m excited from the start and can’t wait to meet all the fans in Kingsmido at the start of the new season.”

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes added: “Lauren is an exciting, young talent that we have admired for a while.

“When the opportunity came for him to sign, we felt that now was the right time to return to the club.

“We are excited about how she will develop in the coming years and look forward to welcoming her in pre-season training.”

James first joined United from Arsenal in 2017 at the age of 16 and became the second youngest player in side history.

He made an immediate impact, scoring 14 goals as they won the first attempt of the advanced championship.

James also scored United’s first WSL goal, giving them a 2-0 win over Liverpool in September 2019 and helping them finish fourth last season, 10 points behind the Chelsea champions.

James represented England at the U17 and U19 levels and was invited to an adult training camp in November.

His move comes the same day as the Chelsea defender Hannah Blundell has replaced West London club Manchester United.