Chelsea have taken the unusual decision to rebrand their top youth sides as Cobham Next Gen.

From the start of the new season, Chelsea's Under-21s and Under-19s will play under the new moniker in the Premier League 2 and the UEFA Under-19 Youth League.

Last season, Chelsea mainly used the same group of players across both teams, as domestic competition for elite-level academies in England is limited to Under-18s and Under-21s - while continental academy football is played at Under-19 level.

Meanwhile, the age range of the Chelsea Under-21 outfit that finished top of the Premier League 2 last term resembled an Under-18s squad, prompting the Blues to scrap the age titles for their top two academy sides. The majority of Chelsea's top prospects are sent out on loan for first-team experience by the age of 20.

Chelsea revealed the eyebrow-raising refresh in a statement on their website, explaining the name change emphasises the academy's aim of developing players for the first team.

'The new name more accurately 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,' the statement read.

'While the squad competed in Premier League 2 as an Under-21s side, its average age last season was closer to that of an Under-18s group, with several players as young as 16 years old featuring regularly.

'Cobham Next Gen also better fits the role of the squad within the Academy. It recognises a group of young players with momentum, taking the next step in their development - the final one in the pathway to senior football - competing at a higher level as they continue their journey through Cobham towards the men's team.

'Providing young players with opportunities to compete above their natural age group remains a key part of the club's approach to player development. That was reflected last season as one of the youngest squads in the Premier League 2 finished at the top of the table.

'The introduction of Cobham Next Gen also strengthens the Academy's identity. More than an age-group name, it represents the players progressing through Cobham and the opportunities available to them as they continue their development towards the men's game.

'This new identity reflects the distinction of Chelsea’s Academy as a unique footballing environment with its own history, culture and proven record of developing players for the highest level of the game.'

Chelsea, whose training base is in Cobham in Surrey, are not the first club to call their leading academy side ‘Next Gen’, with Juventus using the same tag for their Serie C outfit.

Chelsea’s academy is one of the most profitable in world football, with Trevoh Chalobah’s £25million move to Como last week taking the club’s academy player sales to more than £305m since BlueCo took over the club in 2022.

Academy prospects Jesse Derry and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen both made their first-team debuts for the Blues last season and have joined Sporting Lisbon and Portsmouth on loan this summer, respectively.