Reece James 'says NO' to Arsenal fans after they call for him to join Kai Havertz at the Emirates

Reece James has silenced any talk he might join former Chelsea team mates Jorginho and Kai Havertz at the Emirates next season.

The 23-year-old, who is one of the only Blues players not up for sale this summer, has seen the departure of several key squad members as Chelsea attempt to address their roster issues.

The Stamford Bridge fire sale, which recently saw Havertz complete a £65million to Arsenal, prompted one Gunners fan to question why James doesn't do the same.

But the academy graduate was having none of any speculation linking him with a switch to their London rivals.

'Reece James to Arsenal. Who says no?' the fan wrote on Twitter. To which James replied: 'I say no.'

Not content with his snappy rebuttal, the right-back then took to Instagram to post an image of himself staring down Arsenal fans after he had given Chelsea a 2-0 lead at the Emirates in August 2021.

James still has five years remaining on his bumper deal at the club and is one of the core pieces Mauricio Pochettino will look to build around.

Last September, after agreeing the long-term deal, he expressed his excitement for the future and assured Chelsea fans of his commitment to the club.

'I am over the moon with my new contract, and I'm thankful for the fans, the new ownership and everyone involved in the club,' he told the club website.

'I cannot wait to see what the future holds, and I am sure we will have the chance of winning many trophies. I grew up supporting this club, and I've been here since I was a six-year-old.

'I put pen to paper on a new deal because this is the club I want to be at. I'd like to say a special thanks to the fans, I am here to stay, and we have a bright future ahead of us.'

The defender's importance was best shown in Chelsea's form without him last season where, struggling with injuries, James made just 16 Premier League appearances as the club slumped to a 12-placed finish.