Chelsea captain Reece James has been transformed from an injury-plagued right-back into a pivotal central midfielder under Enzo Maresca.

Since breaking into Chelsea’s first team, James has missed 145 matches for club and country, raising concerns at one stage that his immense talent might never be fully realised. Persistent knee and hamstring problems repeatedly stalled his momentum, threatening to define his career.

This season, however, tells a very different story. Just past the halfway point of the campaign, James has already made 26 appearances in all competitions — more than he managed across the entirety of the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons combined. Much of that turnaround can be credited to Maresca.

James may no longer be the overlapping, marauding right-back Chelsea supporters grew accustomed to, but his influence has not diminished. If anything, it has grown. In his new role, he has become Chelsea’s most important player.

A positional shift that makes sense

The modern full-back role is among the most physically demanding in football, and the growing injury toll across the position reflects that reality. Following James’ recurring fitness issues, Maresca and the player appear to have reached a clear understanding about a long-term solution.

Central midfield has emerged as the answer. Injuries to Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo accelerated the transition, while the heavy workloads carried by Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández made James’ redeployment a logical move.

The role itself is not entirely new to him. During his loan spell at Wigan Athletic, James initially played in midfield before settling at right-back. However, it was not until Maresca’s arrival that the switch became a consistent feature rather than an occasional experiment.

Early scepticism among supporters was understandable. James is widely regarded as one of the most complete right-backs in the game, combining elite attacking output with defensive authority. Yet several performances this season have begun to change perceptions.

One standout came in Chelsea’s 3-0 Champions League victory over Barcelona. Partnering Caicedo in midfield, James covered 5.6 miles, completed eight passes into the final third and made six recoveries. Barcelona struggled to cope with his physical presence and tactical intelligence.

He followed that with an equally commanding display against Arsenal. The match was framed as a duel between the league’s elite midfielders, but while Caicedo was sent off and Declan Rice failed to dominate, it was James who set the standard. Despite not being a natural midfielder, he was the best on the pitch.

The 2-2 draw with Newcastle on December 20 offered another illustration of his all-round importance. James curled home a free kick and later produced a crucial last-ditch tackle to deny Harvey Barnes, encapsulating his influence at both ends of the pitch.

The numbers behind the impact

The word “complete” best describes James’ statistical profile this season. Few players contribute so consistently across every phase of play.

Defensively, he has completed 26 tackles, won 74 duels, claimed 25 aerial battles, made 56 recoveries and has been dribbled past just seven times. There is a reason why so many attackers cite James when asked about their toughest opponents.

In attack, he remains one of Chelsea’s most productive outlets. His two goals and three assists place him joint third in the squad for goal contributions. Beyond those headline figures, his underlying numbers are equally impressive: 665 completed passes, 40 accurate long balls, 16 chances created and 14 successful crosses highlight his influence in possession.

Maresca’s long-term vision

Maresca has been open about his plan for James. Speaking after Chelsea’s Europa Conference League victory over Copenhagen last season, the Italian revealed that the idea of moving James into midfield had been in place from the outset.

“I see Reece as a midfielder,” Maresca said. “When I signed with Chelsea, the day after I sent him a video about him playing as a midfielder — before I even met him. He has played this season as a full-back, as a centre-back and in midfield, but the main target for us is to help him stay fit all season.”

Verdict

There is no other player in the Premier League who offers what a fully fit Reece James gives Chelsea. He is not only the team’s most influential presence on the pitch, but is also growing into the leadership role expected of a captain off it. If Maresca’s plan continues to pay off, Chelsea — and James himself — may finally be seeing the best version of a truly special player.