Chelsea confirm name change ahead of new season
Chelsea said the new name reflects a younger squad profile, with last season’s Under-21 side averaging under 19 years old.
- On Tuesday, Chelsea announced its Under-21 and Under-19 squads will compete as Cobham Next Gen starting this season.
- The club stated the name reflects the squad's younger average age, noting last season's Under-21 side featured players as young as 16, with the title referencing the Cobham Training Centre in Surrey.
- Not a Project CFC, a prominent fan group, slammed the decision as 'unacceptable,' accusing the club's BlueCo ownership of stripping away the team's historic identity.
- Head coach Harry Hudson continues to lead the squad, which competes in Premier League 2 and finished atop the league table last season.
- Chelsea's first team, under manager Xabi Alonso, begins its 2026-27 Premier League campaign at Fulham on Monday, with academy graduates Reece James and Levi Colwill featuring in the senior squad.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Chelsea confirm name change ahead of new season
Chelsea have announced that the club’s Under-21 and Under-19 teams will be rebranded as Cobham Next Gen, CNG, starting from the upcoming season, under the leadership of head coach Harry Hudson. The Blues on Tuesday issued an official statement explaining the rationale behind the decision. The statement read: “The new name more accurately reflects the age profile […] Chelsea confirm name change ahead of new season
Chelsea change name of under-21s side in controversial move to rebrand academy
Chelsea's owners have released a statement to explain the decision to change the name of their under-21 and under-19s sides to Cobham Next Gen (CNG), much to the annoyance of fans
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