The Professional Development League is a system of English 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.
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.
Under-21 level Premier League 2
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. 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.
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. Clubs in Premier League 2 can also compete in the Premier League International Cup, the Premier League Cup, the EFL Trophy and the National League Cup, which is restricted to under-21 players.
Champions (Division 1) SeasonChampions2012–13 Manchester United2013–14Chelsea2014–15Manchester United2015–16Manchester United2016–17Everton2017–18Arsenal2018–19Everton2019–20Chelsea2020–21Manchester City2021–22Manchester City2022–23Manchester City2023–24Tottenham Hotspur2024–25Manchester City2025–26Brighton & Hove Albion
Champions (Division 2) SeasonChampions2014–15Middlesbrough2015–16Derby County2016–17Swansea City2017–18Blackburn Rovers2018–19Wolverhampton Wanderers2019–20West Ham United2020–21Leeds United2021–22Fulham2022–23Southampton
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 SeasonChampions2012–13Charlton Athletic2013–14Crewe Alexandra2014–15Swansea City2015–16Huddersfield Town2016–17Sheffield Wednesday2017–18Bolton Wanderers2018–19Leeds United2019–20Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic2020–21Birmingham City2021–22Coventry City2022–23Millwall2023–24Sheffield United2024–25Brentford2025–26 Huddersfield Town
Under-18 level Division 1
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. The overall winners also qualify for the UEFA Youth League.
Champions SeasonChampions2012–13Fulham2013–14Everton2014–15Middlesbrough2015–16Manchester City2016–17Chelsea2017–18Chelsea2018–19Derby County2019–20Not awarded (COVID-19 pandemic)2020–21Manchester City2021–22Manchester City2022–23Manchester City2023–24Manchester United2024–25Aston Villa2025–26Chelsea
Division 2
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 SeasonChampions2012–13Queens Park Rangers2013–14Huddersfield Town2014–15Charlton Athletic2015–16Charlton Athletic2016–17Sheffield United2017–18Charlton Athletic2018–19Sheffield Wednesday2019–20Not awarded (COVID-19 pandemic)2020–21Wigan Athletic2021–22Sheffield United2022–23Barnsley2023–24Birmingham City2024–25Bristol City2025–26 Charlton Athletic
References