Kyle Walker Settles Reece James vs. Trent Alexander-Arnold Debate, Overlooks Ben White

Reece James is hoping to stay fit next season after an injury-ridden campaign under Mauricio Pochettino.

Despite his struggles, Manchester City defender Kyle Walker has declared James the best right-back in the world, ahead of Ben White and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

James faced significant challenges this past season, starting with a hamstring injury that sidelined him for seven of Chelsea’s first eight games. He returned in late October, making an impact by captaining the Blues to a 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur and a 4-4 draw with Manchester City.

However, in December, James re-injured his hamstring, eventually opting for surgery, which kept him out for another five months. He made a brief comeback towards the end of the season, providing a match-winning assist against Nottingham Forest before receiving a red card in the following game. Despite these setbacks, Walker still hailed him as the top right-back globally, excluding himself.

On his new BBC podcast, “You’ll Never Beat Kyle Walker,” the Manchester City star praised James: “Reece James. He’s just got everything. If I could make a complete right-back, it would be him. Defend, attack, technically, both-footed, dead-ball situations, quick.”

James had previously addressed his rivalry with Alexander-Arnold during an international break in November 2021, emphasizing teamwork: “When we’re here, we’re one team. We aim to win, no matter who we’re playing against. We have to put that aside and focus on our task here.”

Rio Ferdinand also weighed in on the debate on BT Sport (now TNT Sport), suggesting that James has an edge: “Based on the way that we’ve seen Trent Alexander-Arnold’s lack of use, Reece James looks to be in the driving seat right now. Both have high standards and huge abilities, but Trent has finesse and range akin to Steven Gerrard. Still, it’s a genuine argument for Reece James to play.”

The debate over who is the best right-back continues, but Walker’s endorsement of James highlights the Chelsea defender’s significant talents and potential impact if he can remain injury-free.