Football NewsDaily Mail FootballUnverified source· 18 Aug 2026
Chelsea rebrand top academy sides as Cobham Next Gen
Chelsea's Under-21s and Under-19s will now be known as Cobham Next Gen, reflecting their young squad's age profile.
Chelsea
team
Teams
Under-21s and Under-19s
New name
Cobham Next Gen
Competitions
Premier League 2 and UEFA Youth League
Reason
Average age closer to Under-18s
What happened. Chelsea have renamed their Under-21s and Under-19s academy teams as Cobham Next Gen, starting from the new season.
- The squad's average age last season was closer to Under-18s, with several 16-year-olds featuring regularly.
- The change aims to emphasize the final step in development towards the senior team.
- Chelsea's academy has generated over £305m in player sales since 2022.
“The new name more accurately reflects the age profile of our leading Academy side and Chelsea's long-standing heritage of developing the next generation of players for the senior game.”
— Chelsea statement
The rebrand aligns with Chelsea's approach of giving young players opportunities above their age group.
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