A new season awaits Chelsea Under-21s, as we return to the pitch following a strong 2024/25 campaign, during which we secured a third-place finish in the regular Premier League 2 season, before reaching the quarter-finals of the knockout stage.

This season, Calum McFarlane takes charge of the Under-21s, having joined from Southampton as head coach. He will be supported by assistant coaches James Simmonds and Andy Ross, while David Martin joins the set-up to lead the goalkeeping department for the development squad.

The Blues will compete in three competitions during the 2025/26 season - the Premier League 2, Premier League International Cup and EFL Vertu Motors Trophy. Fixtures for the latter two tournaments will be confirmed in due course.

We begin our Premier League 2 campaign at home, hosting 2024/25 play-off winners Manchester City at Kingsmeadow on Monday 18 August, in a 7pm kick-off. In a double matchweek, that is followed by an away trip to face Newcastle United at Whitley Park on Friday 22 August, also kicking off at 7pm.

After the September international break, we welcome newly promoted Ipswich Town - who arrive from the Professional Development League - before hosting Stoke City in a back-to-back week of home fixtures. We then head north to face another newly promoted side, Burnley.

In the closing stages of the regular PL2 season, the Blues face back-to-back away matches, starting with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Aggborough Stadium on Friday 20 March, followed by the final league fixture against Fulham on Friday 10 April, under the lights at Motspur Park.

As in previous seasons, the top 16 sides in the Premier League 2 table will qualify for the end-of-season knockout play-offs, where the league title will be up for grabs.

Chelsea Under-21s 2025/26 Premier League 2 schedule

Monday 18 August - Manchester City (h)
Friday 22 August - Newcastle United (a)
Friday 29 August - Aston Villa (a)
Saturday 20 September - Ipswich Town (h)
Saturday 27 September - Stoke City (h)
Sunday 5 October - Burnley (a)
Saturday 25 October - Arsenal (h)
Friday 31 October - Everton (a)
Saturday 8 November - Reading (h)
Saturday 10 January - Crystal Palace (h)
Friday 16 January - West Ham United (a)
Monday 25 January - Leicester City (a)
Saturday 31 January - Southampton (h)
Saturday 7 February - Blackburn Rovers (h)
Friday 13 February - Birmingham City (a)
Saturday 21 February - Leeds United (h)
Friday 27 February - Manchester United (a)
Saturday 14 March - Sunderland (h)
Friday 20 March - Wolverhampton Wanderers (a)
Friday 10 April - Fulham (a)

*Please note all fixtures are subject to change