Photo: Werner100359 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Chelsea's academy sides have their opening fixtures confirmed for the 2026/27 season, with both the Under-21s and Under-18s set to begin competitive action in August.
The Under-21s will travel to the South Coast to face Bournemouth in their Premier League 2 opener on Friday 21 August, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm at the Wyatt Homes Stadium. The Under-18s begin their campaign three days earlier, hosting Norwich City at Cobham on Wednesday 19 August at 1pm.
Both matches will be streamed live via the Chelsea Official App and website for CFC+ subscribers.
Pre-season results have been encouraging across both age groups. The Under-21s beat Championship side Charlton Athletic 3-1, with Chizaram Ezenwata scoring twice and new signing Harrison Bettoni adding a third. The Under-18s produced a high-scoring 7-4 win over Bournemouth, with Jashayde Greenwood netting four goals and Andrew Pennie and Heze Grimwade also on the scoresheet.
The Under-21s are currently competing in the Otten Cup, the pre-season tournament organised by Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, before returning to Cobham on Sunday ahead of the season start.