Reece James has appealed to Chelsea fans to identify the “low-life individuals” who broke into his home while he was playing against Zenit St Petersburg to steal his Champions League winner’s and European Championship runners-up medals.
The Chelsea wing-back said in an Instagram post that a group of robbers had burgled his house and lifted a heavy safe into a car on Tuesday night.
“I never keep any jewellery of mine in my house so all that was contained in the safe were my Champions League winners medal and Super Cup winners medal and the runners up medal for the Euro 2020. These medals were won representing Chelsea and England – honours that can never be taken away from me whether or not I have the physical medals to prove it.
“Nevertheless, I am appealing to all my Chelsea and England fans to help identify and turn in these low-life individuals who will never be able to rest easy as the evidence is mounting against them.
“The police, my advisers and Chelsea FC (and many others) are all behind me as we have firm leads on who the perpetrators are. We are closing in on them. Luckily, no one was present during the break in but I want to let all of you know I am safe and well. I really do appreciate having the platform to tell you all about my misfortune and I hope together we can catch these individuals and deliver justice where it is due.”
Chelsea beat Zenit St Petersburg in their first Champions League game of the 2021-22 season, Romelu Lukaku scoring the only goal of the game in the 69th minute. Thomas Tuchel’s side now lead the group on three points together with Juventus, who beat Malmö FF 3-0 on Tuesday.