2024–25 Professional U18 Development League Explained

Competition:U18 Premier League
Season:2024–25
League Topscorer:Charles Ebuka Agbawodikeizu, Reigan Heskey, James Scanlon, Elisha Sowunmi
(10 goals)
Biggest Home Win:
(28 September 2024)
Biggest Away Win:
(2 November 2024)
Highest Scoring:
(17 August 2024)
Matches:125
Total Goals:550
Longest Wins:10 matches
Manchester United U18s
Longest Unbeaten:10 matches
Manchester United U18s
Longest Winless:10 matches
Leeds United U18s
Updated:30 November 2024

The 2024–25 Professional U18 Development League is the 13th season of the Professional Development League system. There are 26 teams competing, divided into North and South divisions according to their region.

North

Results

South

Results

Season statistics

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerClubGoals[1]
1 Charles Ebuka AgbawodikeizuDerby County U18s10
Elisha SowunmiWest Ham United U18s
3 James ScanlonManchester United U18s9
Nicholas OkelunyeSouthampton U18s
Lucá Williams-BarnettTottenham Hotspur U18s
6 Dan CaseyArsenal U18s8
Reigan HeskeyManchester City U18s
Gabriele BiancheriManchester United U18s
9 Jesse DerryCrystal Palace U18s7
Owen EamesDerby County U18s
Sean NeaveNewcastle United U18s

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date
Sean Neave Derby County U18s3–3 (H) [2]
Charles Ebuka Agbawodikeizu Derby County U18sStoke City U18s6–2 (H) [3]
Arsenal U18sWest Bromwich Albion U18s3–3 (A) [4]
James Scanlon4 Manchester United U18sBlackburn Rovers U18s9–0 (H) [5]
Nottingham Forest U18sLeeds United U18s4–1 (H) [6]
Arsenal U18sBrighton & Hove Albion U18s3–3 (A) [7]
Charles Ebuka Agbawodikeizu4 Derby County U18sLeeds United U18s0–6 (A) [8]
Aston Villa U18sArsenal U18s2–4 (A) [9]
Newcastle United U18sLeeds United U18s4–5 (A) [10]
6–0 (H) [11]
West Ham United U18sReading U18s1–4 (A) [12]
Manchester United U18sLeeds United U18s0–8 (A) [13]
Manchester United U18sLeeds United U18s0–8 (A) [14]
Blackburn Rovers U18sNottingham Forest U18s5–2 (H)
West Ham United U18sAston Villa U18s1–3 (A) [15]
Newcastle United U18s7–1 (H)
Note(H) – Home; (A) – Away
4 – player scored 4 goals

Professional Development League

Competition:U18 Professional Development League
Season:2024–25
League Topscorer:Jevan Beattie (14 goals)
Biggest Home Win:
(7 September 2024)
Biggest Away Win:
(3 September 2024)
Highest Scoring:
(19 October 2024)
Matches:150
Total Goals:620
Longest Unbeaten:12 Matches
Sheffield United U18s
Longest Winless:9 Matches
Colchester United U18s
Longest Losses:9 Matches
Colchester United U18s
Updated:30 November 2024

The Professional Development League 2 is an Under-18 football's second tier, designed for those academies with Category 2 status. The league is split regionally into north and south divisions, with each team facing opponents in their own region twice both home and away and opponents in the other region once resulting in 31 games played. The sides finishing in the top two positions in both regions at the end of the season will progress to a knockout stage to determine the overall league champion. Birmingham City are the defending champions. Brentford make their return to this level after 9 years.[16]

Tables

South Division

Knock-out stage

Semi-finals

Professional Development League National Final

EFL Youth Alliance

Competition:Football League Youth Alliance
Pixels:200
Season:2024-25
Winners:North Division

South Division
Highest Scoring:

Matches:226
Total Goals:886
Longest Wins:6 Matches – Chesterfield U18s
Nextseason:2025–26
Updated:30 November 2024

The EFL Youth Alliance also known at times as League 3 is run by the Football League under the auspices of the Football League Youth Alliance. This is for academies that are Category Three and Four in the EPPP. The competition consists of the Under-18 sides from the Category Three and Category Four Academy Clubs of the EFL and Premier League, along with selected National League Clubs. 44 teams competed this season, one fewer than the previous season. Brentford U18s make their return to Category Two status after 9 years and left the league before the season.[17] Chesterfield U18s returned after a five year absence after their first team was promoted. Bromley U18s[18] joined the league as a Category Four Academy after their first team was promoted to the football League for the very first time. However, Oldham Athletic U18s did not return after their parent club lost their EPPP license. For clubs that get relegated to the National League, they have two years to gain promotion back to the EFL. Otherwise, they lose their license with the League. This season there is no more split divisions or Merit Leagues the divisions are combined. All the teams are placed within two Divisions North and South.

League stage

[19]

South Division

External links

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Premier League U18 - Top Scorers . Flashscore . 2 September 2024.
  2. Web site: Newcastle United U18s / Derby County U18s - English U18 Premier League - Newcastle United Academy, - Newcastle United . 24 August 2024 . 2 September 2024. www.newcastleunited.com.
  3. Web site: MATCH REPORT: Derby County U18 6-2 Stoke City U18 . 31 August 2024 . 2 September 2024. www.dcfc.co.uk.
  4. Web site: U18s report: West Brom 3-3 Arsenal . 31 August 2024 . 19 October 2024. www.arsenal.com.
  5. Web site: U18S SUMMARY: UNITED V BLACKBURN. 28 September 2024. 19 October 2024. www.manutd.com.
  6. Web site: U18S REPORT: NOTTINGHAM FOREST 4-1 LEEDS UNITED . 28 September 2024 . 19 October 2024. www.leedsunited.com.
  7. Web site: U18s report: Brighton 3-3 Arsenal . 28 September 2024 . 19 October 2024. www.arsenal.com.
  8. Web site: MATCH REPORT: Leeds United U18 0-6 Derby County U18 . 19 October 2024 . 19 October 2024. www.dcfc.co.uk.
  9. Web site: U18S: ARSENAL 2-4 ASTON VILLA . 21 October 2024 . 29 October 2024. www.avfc.co.uk.
  10. Web site: Academy. Leeds United Under-18s 4 Newcastle United Under-18s 5 . 26 October 2024 . 29 October 2024. newcastleunited.com.
  11. Web site: U18S: UNITED V NOTTINGHAM FOREST . 26 October 2024 . 29 October 2024. www.manutd.com.
  12. Web site: Highlights & Reaction Sowunmi scores hat-trick as U18s power past Reading . 26 October 2024 . 29 October 2024. whufc.com.
  13. Web site: U18S MATCH SUMMARY: LEEDS V UNITED. 26 October 2024 . 3 November 2024. manutd.com.
  14. Web site: U18S MATCH SUMMARY: LEEDS V UNITED. 2 November 2024. 3 November 2024. manutd.com.
  15. Web site: U18S: ASTON VILLA 1-3 WEST HAM UNITED. 10 November 2024 . 16 November 2024. avfc.co.uk.
  16. News: Brentford U18s fixtures released. www.brentfordfc.com. 6 August 2024. 7 September 2024.
  17. News: Brentford U18s fixtures released. www.brentfordfc.com. 6 August 2024. 7 September 2024.
  18. Web site: BROMLEY FC TO LAUNCH B TEAM STRATEGY FOR 2024/25. Bromley FC. 16 August 2024 .
  19. Web site: Football League Youth Alliance. Soccerway. 21 October 2024.