Chelsea rebrand academy sides as Cobham Next Gen

Chelsea have renamed their Under-21s and Under-19s squads Cobham Next Gen (CNG) from the start of the 2026/27 season, with Harry Hudson continuing as head coach of the setup.

The club said the new name better reflects the age profile of the squads, noting that last season's group competing in Premier League 2 had an average age closer to an Under-18s side, with players as young as 16 featuring regularly.

Cobham Next Gen is intended to represent the final step in Chelsea's Academy pathway before players reach senior football. The rebranded side finished top of the Premier League 2 table last season despite fielding one of the youngest squads in the competition.

Chelsea pointed to the Academy's record of producing first-team players, naming club captain Reece James, Levi Colwill and Josh Acheampong among recent graduates currently in the senior squad.

The club said the new identity is designed to strengthen the Academy's broader image, framing Cobham as a distinct footballing environment with its own history and development culture rather than simply an age-group structure.