Chelsea have announced a rebrand of their under-21 and under-19 teams, confirming their new name as Cobham Next Gen.
The club say the new name, effective from this season, "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's U21s competed in Premier League 2 last season but their average age was closer to U18 level, including some players who were just 16, the club say. Chelsea added that a name-change reflects the group of players who are at the final stage before the first team.
Similarly, Manchester City renamed their youth sides as the Elite Development Squad in 2011-12.
Last season's under-21 side finished top of the regular-season Premier League 2 table but were beaten in the playoff quarterfinal by Tottenham.
Winger Jesse Derry, a regular in that side, was handed his senior league debut in the Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest in May, before being forced off with a serious head injury.
There are currently two academy graduates in manager Xabi Alonso's first-team squad -- club captain Reece James and Levi Colwill.
A number of high-profile former youth players have passed through the club's system, including Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice and Manchester United's Mason Mount.
The Blues' most successful ever captain John Terry, who led Chelsea to all five of their Premier League titles, was also a Cobham graduate.
Head coach Harry Hudson will continue to lead Cobham Next Gen this year. He began leading the U-21 side when Calum McFarlane stepped up into Liam Rosenior's first-team coaching staff.
Chelsea's first team, now under the leadership of Alonso, begin their 2026-27 Premier League campaign on Monday night at local rivals Fulham.
- 2026 FC 100: Where does Haaland rank among best center forwards in men's soccer?
- Premier League manager changes: Xabi Alonso, Andoni Iraola, more - and their biggest challenges
Press Association contributed to this report.