Chelsea confirm Lauren James injury after Euro 2025 final
Chelsea have confirmed that Lauren James will spend time on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury while with England at Euro 2025.
James played a key role in the Lionesses’ run to the final, starting every game and scoring twice, including an extra-time performance against Sweden that stretched to penalties.
But she limped off during the final against Spain, and Chelsea’s statement has now confirmed that the 23-year-old faces another spell of recovery. No official return date has been provided.
The setback follows a difficult stretch of injuries over the past year.
James missed months for Chelsea with a calf issue at the end of 2024, then picked up a hamstring problem in April 2025 against Belgium, which ruled her out of the closing stages of the WSL season.
She only returned to fitness shortly before the Euros, playing in a pre-tournament friendly against Jamaica.
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Risk that backfired
England manager Sarina Wiegman put faith in James throughout the tournament, but the decision to play her so heavily may come under scrutiny.
James started every game, including the draining semi-final against Sweden, despite her lack of consistent minutes in the months prior.
For a player with a recent history of setbacks, the risks of such a workload were always high.
Now Chelsea face the consequences, with James set to miss the start of the Women’s Super League season.
The Blues open their campaign against Manchester City in early September, but will likely be without their star forward.
A pattern that needs breaking
For both club and country, the priority will be breaking the cycle of repeated setbacks.
James remains one of the most gifted attackers in the women’s game, but her availability has become a growing concern heading into another long campaign.
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