TheProfessional Development League is a system ofEnglish youthfootball leagues that are managed, organised and controlled by thePremier League or by theFootball League. It was introduced by theFootball Association via theElite 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 thePremier Reserve League,Premier Academy League andFootball Combination. TheFootball 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 theEnglish football league system are placed in the system based on the assessment of their academy for the Elite Player Performance Plan.
 | |
| Domestic cup(s) | Premier League Cup EFL Trophy National League Cup |
|---|---|
| International cup | Premier League International Cup |
| Current champions | Manchester City (4th title) |
| Most championships | Manchester City (4 titles) |
| Website | Official website |
| Current:2025–26 Premier League 2 | |
From 2012 to 2016,EPPP Category 1 academies' most senior youth league was an under-21 league known as theU21 Premier League, with four over-age outfield players being permitted to play. From the 2016–17 season onwards, the competition is known as thePremier 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 theUEFA Champions League.[4] Clubs in Premier League 2 can also compete in thePremier League International Cup, thePremier League Cup, theEFL Trophy and theNational League Cup, which is restricted to under-21 players.[5]
| Season | Champions |
|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Middlesbrough |
| 2015–16 | Derby County |
| 2016–17 | Swansea City |
| 2017–18 | Blackburn Rovers |
| 2018–19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| 2019–20 | West Ham United |
| 2020–21 | Leeds United |
| 2021–22 | Fulham |
| 2022–23 | Southampton |
 | |
| Current champions | Brentford |
|---|---|
| Most championships | Twelve teams (1 title each) |
| Current:2025–26 Professional Development League | |
The senior youth age range for EPPP Category Two academies is theProfessional Development League. The competition is split into two regional divisions, with the overall champion determined after an end of season play-off series.
| Season | Champions |
|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Charlton Athletic |
| 2013–14 | Crewe Alexandra |
| 2014–15 | Swansea City |
| 2015–16 | Huddersfield Town |
| 2016–17 | Sheffield Wednesday |
| 2017–18 | Bolton Wanderers |
| 2018–19 | Leeds United |
| 2019–20 | Cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic |
| 2020–21 | Birmingham City |
| 2021–22 | Coventry City |
| 2022–23 | Millwall |
| 2023–24 | Sheffield United |
| 2024–25 | Brentford |
 | |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Youth Cup U18 Premier League Cup |
|---|---|
| International cup | UEFA Youth League |
| Current champions | Aston Villa (1st title) |
| Most championships | Manchester City (4 titles) |
| Website | Official website |
| Current:2025–26 Professional U18 Development League | |
An under-18 league forEPPP Category 1 academies was formed alongside the formation of the Professional Development League in 2012. Known as theU18 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 theUEFA Youth League.
| 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 |
 | |
| Domestic cup | FA Youth Cup |
|---|---|
| Current champions | Bristol City (1st title) |
| Most championships | Charlton Athletic (3 titles) |
The junior youth age range forEPPP Category 2 academies is theU18 Professional Development League. The competition is split into two regional divisions, with the overall champion determined after an end-of-season play-off series.
