For the first time since being made club captain, James felt the joy of lifting trophies when we triumphed in the Conference League and then the Club World Cup.

Off the back of those successes, the 25-year-old wants and expects more. It’s the Chelsea way, and nobody knows that better than the Academy graduate.

‘This season we are going to be ambitious,’ he said.

‘We’re in a good position. We want to compete at the highest level and win the competitions we’re in. We’re preparing the best we can.

‘It’s early days, we’ve only had a few days with the new players so far, but they’re great additions to the squad. We have good depth this year, and we hope to go close.’

The return of elite European football to Stamford Bridge is just one of many things to look forward to in 2025/26, and James anticipates us rising to the challenge.

‘I wouldn’t say it’s an extra step – it’s where the club is meant to be. The last few years we haven’t been there, but it’s nothing we’re not used to. We’ll be playing against top teams, but we are one of the best as well.

‘The club is for sure moving in the right direction,’ the skipper added.

‘The two seasons before we didn’t qualify for the Champions League and we didn’t win any trophies. Now we have qualified, and we’ve won two trophies. The trend is upwards, and we want to keep that going.’