Professional Development League

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 3 of the under 18 system. The system covers the under-18, under-21 and under-23 age groups.^[1]

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-23 level

Category 1

Premier League 2

League cup(s)	Premier League Cup EFL Trophy
International cup(s)	Premier League International Cup
Current champions	Everton
Most championships	Manchester United (3 titles)
Current season

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 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 increased from under-21 to under-23.^[2]

The competition is split into two divisions, with promotion and relegation between each. 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.^[3]

Champions

Category 2

Professional Development League

Current champions	Sheffield Wednesday
Most championships	Five clubs (1 title)
Current season

The senior youth age range for EPPP Category 2 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

Under-18 level

Category 1

U18 Premier League

Domestic cup(s)	FA Youth Cup
Current champions	Chelsea
Most championships	Five clubs (1 title)
Current season

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, with the eventual champion winning a second league stage.

Champions

Category 2

U18 Professional Development League

Domestic cup(s)	FA Youth Cup
Current champions	Sheffield United
Most championships	Charlton Athletic (2 titles)
Current season

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

References