Professional Development League Explained

The Professional Development League is a system of youth football leagues that are managed, organised and controlled by the Premier League or by the Football League. It was introduced by the Football Association via the Elite Player Performance Plan in 2012.[1]

The system was introduced in early 2012 and was active for the first time during the 2012–13 season. It is a successor to the Premier Reserve League, Premier Academy League and Football Combination. The Football League Youth Alliance makes up League 2 of the under-18 system. The system covers the under-18 and under-21 groups.

Previously, clubs participating in the Premier Reserve League (the highest level of reserve football in England) were removed from the competition if their first team in the Premier League were relegated and replaced with a promoted team. Under the Professional Development League system, Premier League reserves teams' league status is not directly linked to the first team's Premier League status. Instead, there are three different Professional Development Leagues at each age-group level and clubs in the top four tiers of the English football league system are placed in the system based on the assessment of their academy for the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP).

Under-21 level

Premier League 2

Premier League 2
League Cup:Premier League Cup
EFL Trophy
Confed Cup:Premier League International Cup
Champions:Tottenham Hotspur (1st title)
Most Successful Club:Manchester United
Manchester City
(both 3 titles)
Current:2024–25 Premier League 2
Website:Official website

From 2012 to 2016, EPPP Category 1 academies' most senior youth league was an under-21 league known as the U21 Premier League, with four over-age outfield players being permitted to play. From the 2016–17 season onwards, the competition is known as the Premier League 2 and the age limit was increased from under-21 to under-23.[2] This change was reverted for the 2022–23 season onwards, with the competition once again being restricted to under-21 players. In order to help with the transition, teams were allowed up to five over-age outfield players, up from three, and one over-age goalkeeper for the 2022–23 season only.[3]

The competition was split into two divisions, with promotion and relegation between each, from its inception in 2012 until the 2022–23 season. From the 2023–24 season onwards, the competition consists of one division of 26 clubs in a "Swiss-style" format with 20 regular season fixtures and a 16 team knockout stage, similar to the new format of the UEFA Champions League.[4] Clubs in Premier League 2 can also compete in the Premier League Cup, the Premier League International Cup and the EFL Trophy, which is restricted to under-21 players.[5]

Champions (Division 1)

SeasonChampions
Manchester United
2013–14Chelsea
2014–15Manchester United
2015–16Manchester United
2016–17Everton
2017–18Arsenal
2018–19Everton
2019–20Chelsea
2020–21Manchester City
2021–22Manchester City
2022–23Manchester City
2023–24Tottenham Hotspur

Champions (Division 2)

SeasonChampions
2014–15Middlesbrough
2015–16Derby County
2016–17Swansea City
2017–18Blackburn Rovers
2018–19Wolverhampton Wanderers
2019–20West Ham United
2020–21Leeds United
2021–22Fulham
2022–23Southampton

Professional Development League

Professional Development League
Champions:Sheffield United
Most Successful Club:Eleven teams
(1 title each)
Current:2024–25 Professional Development League

The senior youth age range for EPPP Category Two academies is the Professional Development League. The competition is split into two regional divisions, with the overall champion determined after an end of season play-off series.

Champions

SeasonChampions
2012–13Charlton Athletic
2013–14Crewe Alexandra
2014–15Swansea City
2015–16Huddersfield Town
2016–17Sheffield Wednesday
2017–18Bolton Wanderers
2018–19Leeds United
2019–20Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21Birmingham City
2021–22Coventry City
2022–23Millwall
2023–24Sheffield United

Under-18 level

Division 1

U18 Premier League
Domest Cup:FA Youth Cup
U18 Premier League Cup
Confed Cup:UEFA Youth League
Champions:Manchester United (1st title)
Most Successful Club:Manchester City (4 titles)
Current:2024–25 Professional U18 Development League
Website:Official website

An under-18 league for EPPP Category 1 academies was formed alongside the formation of the Professional Development League in 2012. Known as the U18 Premier League, the competition is split into two regional divisions (North and South). The two winners of each division contest the final to determine the overall champions. Winners of the top division qualify for the UEFA Youth League.

Champions

SeasonChampions
2012–13Fulham
2013–14Everton
2014–15Middlesbrough
2015–16Manchester City
2016–17Chelsea
2017–18Chelsea
2018–19Derby County
2019–20Not awarded (COVID-19 pandemic)
2020–21Manchester City
2021–22Manchester City
2022–23Manchester City
2023–24Manchester United

2022–23 teams

North
Blackburn Rovers
Derby County
Everton
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Middlesbrough
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Stoke City
Sunderland
Wolverhampton Wanderers
South
Arsenal
Aston Villa
Brighton & Hove Albion
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Fulham
Leicester City
Norwich City
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Bromwich Albion
West Ham United

Division 2

U18 Professional Development League
Domest Cup:FA Youth Cup
Champions:Birmingham City (1st title)
Most Successful Club:Charlton Athletic (3 titles)

The junior youth age range for EPPP Category 2 academies is the U18 Professional Development League. The competition is split into two regional divisions, with the overall champion determined after an end of season play-off series.

Champions

SeasonChampions
2012–13Queens Park Rangers
2013–14Huddersfield Town
2014–15Charlton Athletic
2015–16Charlton Athletic
2016–17Sheffield United
2017–18Charlton Athletic
2018–19Sheffield Wednesday
2019–20Not awarded (COVID-19 pandemic)
2020–21Wigan Athletic
2021–22Sheffield United
2022–23Barnsley
2023–24Birmingham City

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Youth development rules. TheFa.com. 8 August 2012. pdf. 30 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180930003320/http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/RulesandRegulations/~/media/Files/PDF/the-fa-2012-13/2012-13-rules/youth-development-rules.ashx. live.
  2. Web site: Premier League 2: Competition format explained. Premier League. 26 July 2016. 2 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211102212218/https://www.premierleague.com/news/58764. live.
  3. Web site: Premier League 2 becomes under-21 competition. 17 June 2022. 18 June 2022. premierleague.com. 17 June 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220617174644/https://www.premierleague.com/news/2648759. live.
  4. Web site: Townley . John . Premier League clubs vote for change that will impact Aston Villa . Birmingham Live . 20 June 2023 . en . 20 June 2023.
  5. Web site: 'Premier League 2 gives optimum opportunities'. Premier League. 31 July 2016. 13 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160913082202/https://www.premierleague.com/news/66162. live.