Lauren James

Lauren James is a highly decorated forward for Chelsea F.C. Women and the England national team, known for her technical skill and goal-scoring ability. After debuting for the Arsenal first team in 2017 as the club’s second-youngest debutant, Lauren James went on to establish herself as a formidable forward. In July 2018, James joined Manchester United as a foundational member of their inaugural professional squad, quickly making a significant impact.

She repeated this impressive feat with another hat-trick against Manchester United in January 2024, ultimately finishing the season as Chelsea’s top scorer with 16 goals. Her outstanding individual season culminated in being named Chelsea Women Player of the Year and inclusion in both the PFA WSL Team of the Year and the distinguished FIFA FIFPro Women’s World XI for 2023. Internationally, James made her senior England debut in September 2022 during the 2023 World Cup qualification. She scored her first international goal in February 2023 at the Arnold Clark Cup, where she was named Player of the Tournament.

James played a crucial role in England’s 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign, scoring her first World Cup goal against Denmark and contributing two goals and three assists against China as England reached the final. In September 2024, she launched the LJ10 scholarship program to promote diversity in women’s football. Later that year, she received a nomination for the Ballon d’Or and was again voted into the FIFPRO Women’s World XI for 2024, further solidifying her global standing. James was instrumental in England’s triumph at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, scoring twice against the Netherlands and starting in the final against Spain.