The Chelsea F.C. Academy is the academy of Chelsea Football Club, responsible for developing youth players from the under-9s age group and up. Since 2016, the academy has had Category One status following an independent audit conducted by the Premier League.
The most senior academy team is called Cobham Next Gen (CNG), previously named the Development Squad and Chelsea F.C. Under-21s. They play in the Premier League 2, the top level of reserve football in England, and were champions in the 2013–14 and 2019–20 seasons. The Cobham Next Gen team consists of under-19 and under-21 squads, although senior players occasionally feature, when recovering from injuries or otherwise not in the first team. As of 2026, the team is managed by Harry Hudson.
Chelsea F.C. U18s is the under-18 team of Chelsea Football Club, competing in the U18 Premier League. They have won the FA Youth Cup nine times, including five consecutive titles between 2014 and 2018. The academy has produced many successful players such as the brothers Ron and Allan Harris, Peter Bonetti, Bobby Tambling, Barry Bridges, Bert Murray, John Hollins, Peter Osgood, Ray Wilkins, Graeme Le Saux, Bobby Smith, Terry Venables, Jimmy Greaves, John Terry, Mason Mount, Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill and Conor Gallagher. Chelsea are the only English club to reach the final of the UEFA Youth League, winning it twice in four final appearances. As of 2026, the team is managed by Dan Hogan.
The Cobham Next Gen team play their home games at Kingsmeadow, while the under-18s play at the club's Cobham Training Centre in Cobham, Surrey. Both teams occasionally use the club's home ground Stamford Bridge for important matches.
Current squads Cobham Next Gen squad
U18s squad
Academy graduates since 2000s Bold indicates players who still play for Chelsea, including those who are currently out on loan to other clubs. PlayerInternational capsDebutManager Leon Knight England U20v Levski Sofia, UEFA Cup, 27 September 2001 Claudio Ranieri Joel Kitamirikev Hapoel Tel Aviv, UEFA Cup, 18 October 2001 Joe Keenanv Aston Villa, Premier League, 9 February 2002 Carlton Cole England v Everton, Premier League, 6 April 2002 Robert Huth Germanyv Aston Villa, Premier League, 11 May 2002 Filipe Oliveira Portugal U21v Viking, UEFA Cup, 19 September 2002 Alexis Nicolas Cyprus U21v Scarborough, FA Cup, 24 January 2004 Steven Watt Scotland U21v Scunthorpe United, FA Cup, 8 January 2005 José Mourinho Lenny Pidgeley England U20v Charlton Athletic, Premier League, 7 May 2005 Anthony Grant Jamaicav Manchester United, Premier League, 10 May 2005 Jimmy Smith England U19v Newcastle United, Premier League, 7 May 2006 Ben Sahar Israelv Macclesfield Town, FA Cup, 6 January 2007 Michael Woods England U19 Sam Hutchinson England U19v Everton, Premier League, 13 May 2007 Michael Mancienne Seychellesv Watford, FA Cup, 14 February 2009 Guus Hiddink Fabio Borini Italyv Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League, 20 September 2009 Carlo Ancelotti Jeffrey Bruma Netherlandsv Blackburn Rovers, Premier League, 24 October 2009 Gaël Kakuta DR Congov Wolverhampton Wanderers, Premier League, 21 November 2009 Patrick van Aanholt Netherlands v Portsmouth, Premier League, 24 March 2010 Josh McEachran England U21v MŠK Žilina, UEFA Champions League, 15 September 2010 Jacob Mellis England U19v MŠK Žilina, UEFA Champions League, 23 November 2010 Ryan Bertrand England v Birmingham City, Premier League, 20 April 2011 Lucas Piazon Brazil U23v Wolverhampton Wanderers, 25 September 2012 Roberto Di Matteo Nathan Aké Netherlands v Norwich City, Premier League, 26 December 2012 Rafael Benítez Lewis Baker England U21v Derby County, FA Cup, 5 January 2014 José Mourinho John Swift England U21v Cardiff City, Premier League, 11 May 2014 Dominic Solanke England v Maribor, UEFA Champions League, 21 October 2014 Andreas Christensen Denmarkv Shrewsbury Town, EFL Cup, 28 October 2014 Ruben Loftus-Cheek England v Sporting CP, UEFA Champions League, 10 December 2014 Bertrand Traoré Burkina Fasov Maccabi Tel Aviv, UEFA Champions League, 16 September 2015 Jake Clarke-Salter England U21v Aston Villa, Premier League, 2 April 2016 Guus Hiddink Tammy Abraham England v Liverpool, Premier League, 11 May 2016 Fikayo Tomori England v Leicester City, Premier League, 15 May 2016 Ola Aina Nigeriav Bristol Rovers, EFL Cup, 23 August 2016 Antonio Conte Nathaniel Chalobah England v Leicester City, EFL Cup, 20 September 2016 Charly Musonda Belgium U21v Arsenal, Community Shield, 6 August 2017 Jérémie Boga Ivory Coastv Burnley, Premier League, 12 August 2017 Dujon Sterling England U20v Nottingham Forest, EFL Cup, 20 September 2017 Callum Hudson-Odoi England v Newcastle United, FA Cup, 28 January 2018 Kyle Scott United States U20v Hull City, FA Cup, 16 February 2018 Mason Mount England v Manchester United, Premier League, 11 August 2019 Frank Lampard Billy Gilmour Scotlandv Sheffield United, Premier League, 31 August 2019 Tino Anjorin England U20v Grimsby Town, EFL Cup, 25 September 2019 Marc Guehi England Reece James England Ian Maatsen Netherlands Tariq Lamptey Ghanav Arsenal, Premier League, 29 December 2019 Armando Broja Albaniav Everton, Premier League, 8 March 2020 Trevoh Chalobah Englandv Villarreal, UEFA Super Cup, 11 August 2021 Thomas Tuchel Xavier Simons England U20v Brentford, EFL Cup, 22 December 2021 Jude Soonsup-Bell Thailand Harvey Vale England U20 Lewis Hall England v Chesterfield, FA Cup, 8 January 2022 Conor Gallagher England v Everton, Premier League, 6 August 2022 Omari Hutchinson Jamaica v Manchester City, Premier League, 5 January 2023 Graham Potter Bashir Humphreys England U21v Manchester City, FA Cup, 8 January 2023 Levi Colwill England v Liverpool, Premier League, 13 August 2023 Mauricio Pochettino Alex Matos England U20v Fulham, Premier League, 2 October 2023 Alfie Gilchristv Crystal Palace, Premier League, 27 December 2023 Michael Golding England U19v Preston North End, EFL Cup, 6 January 2024 Leo Castledine England U19v Middlesbrough, EFL Cup, 23 January 2024 Cesare Casadei Italy U21v Liverpool, Premier League, 31 January 2024 Jimi Tauriainen Finland U21v Leeds United, FA Cup, 28 February 2024 Josh Acheampong England U21v Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League, 2 May 2024 Tyrique George England U21v Servette, UEFA Conference League, 29 August 2024 Enzo Maresca Samuel Rak-Sakyi England U18v Noah, UEFA Conference League, 7 November 2024 Ato Ampah England U20v Astana, UEFA Conference League, 12 December 2024 Kiano Dyer England U20 Shim Mheuka England U20 Harrison Murray-Campbell England U20v Shamrock Rovers, UEFA Conference League, 19 December 2024 Genesis Antwi Sweden U21v Copenhagen, UEFA Conference League, 13 March 2025 Reggie Walsh England U19v Djurgårdens IF, UEFA Conference League, 1 May 2025 Jesse Derry England U20v Hull City, FA Cup, 13 February 2026 Liam Rosenior Ryan Kavuma-McQueen England U18v Port Vale, FA Cup, 4 April 2026 Reggie Watson England U17v Leeds United, EFL Cup, 9 September 2026 Xabi Alonso Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli England U17v Brentford, Premier League, 18 September 2026
Notable Academy graduates Players who have at least 10 first-team appearances for Chelsea or have represented a country at full international level, are categorised by the decade in which they were graduated from the academy.
bold indicates players who still play for Chelsea, including those who are currently out on loan to other clubs.
Before World War II
David Calderhead Jr. Ron Greenwood George Pearson Tommy Law Bill Robertson
1950s
Micky Block Peter Bonetti Peter Brabrook Terry Bradbury Barry Bridges David Cliss John Compton Derek Gibbs Jimmy Greaves Mike Harrison Tony Nicholas Mel Scott Ken Shellito Bobby Smith Bobby Tambling Dick Whittaker
1960s
Dennis Brown Dennis Butler John Dunn Allan Harris Ron Harris John Hollins Peter Houseman Alan Hudson Barry Lloyd Bert Murray Peter Osgood Terry Venables John Boyle Stewart Houston
1970s
Trevor Aylott Brian Bason John Bumstead Gary Chivers Mike Fillery Lee Frost Kevin Hales Gary Johnson Tommy Langley Ray Lewington Gary Locke Teddy Maybank Micky Nutton Colin Pates Peter Rhoades-Brown Steve Sherwood John Sitton John Sparrow Gary Stanley David Stride Clive Walker Steve Wicks Graham Wilkins Ray Wilkins Ian Britton Steve Finnieston
1980s
Jason Cundy Keith Dublin Steve Francis Robert Isaac Dale Jasper Keith Jones David Lee Graeme Le Saux Damian Matthew Graham Stuart Colin West Craig Burley Billy Dodds John Millar Gareth Hall
1990s
Michael Duberry Jon Harley Paul Hughes Jody Morris Andy Myers Eddie Newton Mark Nicholls Neil Shipperley John Terry Samuele Dalla Bona Frank Sinclair
2000s
Gaël Kakuta Ryan Bertrand Carlton Cole Robert Huth Ben Sahar Fabio Borini Anthony Grant Jeffrey Bruma Patrick van Aanholt Michael Mancienne
2010s
Bertrand Traoré Jérémie Boga Andreas Christensen Tammy Abraham Nathaniel Chalobah Trevoh Chalobah Conor Gallagher Marc Guéhi Callum Hudson-Odoi Reece James Ruben Loftus-Cheek Josh McEachran Mason Mount Dominic Solanke Fikayo Tomori Tariq Lamptey Nathan Aké Ian Maatsen Ola Aina Billy Gilmour
2020s
Armando Broja Josh Acheampong Levi Colwill Tyrique George Alfie Gilchrist Lewis Hall Omari Hutchinson Cesare Casadei Jude Soonsup-Bell
Annual awards Young Player of the Year
Academy Player of the Season
Honours
Reserves team U21 Premier League / Premier League 2 Winners (2): 2013–14, 2019–20 The Football Combination Winners (11): 1948–49, 1954–55, 1957–58, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1964–65, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1993–94 Premier Reserve League – National Champions Winners (1): 2010–11 Premier Reserve League – Southern Champions Winners (1): 2010–11 London Challenge Cup Winners (5): 1919–20, 1926–27, 1949–50, 1959–60, 1960–61 Metropolitan League Winners (3): 1954–55, 1956–57, 1957–58
Academy team Blue Stars Youth Tournament Winners (1): 1984 UEFA Youth League Winners (2): 2014–15, 2015–16 U18 Premier League – National Champions Winners (3): 2016–17, 2017–18, 2025–26 U18 Premier League – Southern Champions Winners (6): 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2023–24, 2025–26 FA Youth Cup Winners (9): 1959–60, 1960–61, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18 U18 Premier League Cup Winners (2): 2017–18, 2021–22 U17 Premier League Cup Winners (1): 2023–24 U16 Premier League Cup Winners (1): 2018–19 Southern Junior Floodlight Cup Winners (5): 1955–56, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1963–64 South East Counties League Winners (10): 1954–55, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1973–74, 1983–84 South East Counties League Cup Winners (11): 1952–53, 1953–54, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1962–63, 1964–65, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1983–84, 1986–87 North Surrey Minor League Winners (1): 1953–54 London Minor Challenge Cup Winners (3): 1949–50, 1951–52, 1953–54
References
External links About the Academy at Chelsea F.C. official website Why Chelsea could finally be reaping the rewards of their outstanding academy – These Football Times (2017)