Sturge, a left-back with an attack-oriented style, played for Brighton's U18 team during the previous season.

The defender played once for the U23s but was unable to advance to the first team.

Sturge will join Chelsea's U21 team and has now been officially announced as a new member of the team.

Sturge won't likely play for Chelsea's first team any time soon, but finding young talent for their academy to nurture can be essential to their success.

Sturge can pick up tips from the Chelsea coaching staff and, with any luck, mature into a player they can either sell for a healthy profit or have a significant impact on the senior team.

Many of the elite Premier League clubs have targeted the smaller clubs in the league this summer, poaching their young talent. In the future, this will save them a lot of money if the players develop as expected.

If one day they can break into the first team, then this will allow Chelsea to invest money in other areas of the pitch.