Chelsea academy leads English and Welsh club rankings for fourth consecutive year
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 7, 2026, 12:31 PM
Last updated Sep 7, 2026
Training Ground Guru has named Chelsea the most productive academy in England and Wales for the fourth straight year. The data-driven ranking evaluates clubs based on the number of players aged 23 and under who successfully progress into the men's game. Chelsea finished ahead of Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Tottenham in the latest assessment. Academy director Glenn van der Kraan attributed the success to the combined efforts of the club staff, ownership, and sporting directors. Following a season in which the club secured both Premier League 2 and Under-18 Premier League titles, Chelsea has rebranded its youth squads under the name Cobham Next Gen.
- •Chelsea holds the top position in the Academy Productivity Rankings for the fourth year in a row.
- •The evaluation criteria focus on players aged 23 and under transitioning into professional men's football.
- •Chelsea outperformed Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Tottenham in the latest analysis.
- •The club recently rebranded its under-21 and under-19 teams as Cobham Next Gen.
- •Chelsea secured both the Under-18 Premier League and Premier League 2 titles last season.
- 12:31 PMYahoo Sports — Chelsea top national academy rankings again
"Chelsea have been ranked the most productive academy in England and Wales for the fourth consecutive year. The Academy Productivity Rankings, compiled by Training Ground Guru, assess which clubs are producing the highest number of players aged 23 and under who are progressing into the men's game, using a data-driven methodology. Manchester United topped the rankings for three successive seasons before Chelsea claimed first place in the 2021-22 campaign.
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