Chelsea Football Club announced today a partnership with Los Angeles Futbol Club (LAFC), one of the most decorated youth football academies in the US.

LAFC will now be LAFC Chelsea and host Chelsea tournaments, training sessions and a player and coach exchange programme.

LAFC, a three-year-old club and academy based in Simi Valley, California, is the third club to partner with Chelsea this year, further expanding our network of top American youth soccer clubs.

As a result of the unique partnership, LAFC Chelsea will offer more scholarships for young athletes with financial hardship. LAFC provides young players across Southern California and throughout the country the opportunity to play competitive football regardless of ability to pay club membership costs.

In keeping with Chelsea's Corporate Social Responsibility strategy, further opportunities will be developed for more players who for financial or social reasons may have been excluded from participation. Through the use of the club's name and Chelsea badge it is hoped that LAFC will be able to raise additional revenue to provide more chances for young people from underprivileged backgrounds to enjoy the world's most popular game.

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said: 'Our youth super club network is designed to support football development in the US. LAFC share the same goal and have demonstrated rapid growth of their club and talent.

'Since its inception, LAFC has provided young athletes the opportunity to play competitive soccer through financial support. With our new partnership, we hope that the association with Chelsea can attract and leverage additional funding scholarships, helping to further develop the academy and club.

'Providing elite training for young talent is critical to the long-term development of the sport in America.'

The club will make its debut under the new LAFC Chelsea nameplate when its u16 and u18 teams take on the US Youth National Teams on 29 November in Los Angeles.

LAFC president Don Sheppard said: 'LAFC was created to provide an affordable option for skilled players to play top-tier club soccer. We've been able to reach out to economically-disadvantaged communities to recruit some of the best talent in the US.

'For a world-renowned club like Chelsea to recognise our mission and be a part of it shows the caliber and quality of their organization and their commitment to develop US soccer.

'We are a young programme and a partnership like this allows us to reach the next level on skill development, player participation and overall club exposure. We have a top-tier coaching staff and now with Chelsea our players will receive an international view of the game - something they may not have received otherwise.'

LAFC includes more than 50 boys and girls' teams with 800 players from eight to 18. Throughout the past year, the academy has placed five players on US national teams and Olympic Development Programmes.

Chelsea's youth super club network began in July 2008 with the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) of North Carolina partnership. In November 2008, Chelsea announced a partnership with Match Fit Academy of New Jersey. LAFC is the third club to join Chelsea's network.