
- Chelsea have officially rebranded their under-21 and under-19 youth teams as Cobham Next Gen (CNG) ahead of the 2026-27 season.
- Competing under the CNG moniker in Premier League 2, the club stated the new name better reflects the squad's young age profile, which averaged closer to an under-18 group last term with players as young as 16 regularly featuring.
- The title pays homage to Chelsea's Surrey training base at Cobham, although the team will continue to play the majority of their home fixtures at Kingsmeadow.
- The rebrand highlights the final step in the development pathway to senior football for an academy that has produced notable players such as Reece James, Levi Colwill, Declan Rice, Mason Mount, and John Terry.
- The youth side enters the new season after finishing top of the regular Premier League 2 table last term before being eliminated by Tottenham in the play-off quarter-finals.
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