2022–23 Professional U21 Development League

The 2022–23 Professional U21 Development League was the 11th season of the Professional Development League system.

The Premier League 2 reverted back to a U21 competition ahead of the 2022–23 season.[1] Burnley, Birmingham City and Reading left the league after failing to retain category one academy status.[2][3][4]

For the 2022–23 season onwards, player eligibility was restricted to under-21 players (reduced from under-23) born after 1 January 2001. 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.

Football league season

Premier League 2Season| 2022–23

|

Champions| Manchester City U21s
Division 2
Southampton U21s
Promoted| Southampton U21s
Leeds United U21s
Relegated| Tottenham Hotspur U21s
Leicester City U21s
Matches played| 295
(292 RS, 3 PO)
Goals scored| 1,098 (3.72 per match)
( 1,089 RS, 9 PO)
Top goalscorer| Carlos Borges Manchester City U21s
(21 goals)
Biggest home win| Southampton U21s 8–1 Middlesbrough U21s
(30 October 2022)
Biggest away win| Leicester City U21s 0–7 Fulham U21s
(10 October 2022)
Highest scoring| Sunderland U21s 5–7 Middlesbrough U21s
(9 January 2023) Record
Longest winning run| 4 Matches Manchester City U21s
Longest unbeaten run| 11 Matches Manchester City U21s
Longest winless run| 20 matches Entire season Derby County U21s
Longest losing run| 12 matches Derby County U21s
(5 August 2022-13 February 2023)
Highest attendance| 12,546 Leeds United U21s 3–0 Nottingham Forest U21s
(15 May 2023) Play-Off Final
Lowest attendance| 30 Derby County U21s 0–2 Aston Villa U21s
(29 October 2022)

← 2021–22

2023–24 →

## Premier League 2

[edit]

### Division 1

[edit]

As of match played 8 May 2023

#### Table

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Manchester City U21s (C) | 26  | 18  | 5  | 3  | 80  | 31  | +49  | 59
2  | Liverpool U21s | 26  | 13  | 7  | 6  | 46  | 29  | +17  | 46
3  | Chelsea U21s | 26  | 12  | 7  | 7  | 55  | 42  | +13  | 43
4  | Crystal Palace U21s | 26  | 11  | 9  | 6  | 45  | 42  | +3  | 42
5  | Fulham U21s | 26  | 11  | 8  | 7  | 50  | 39  | +11  | 41
6  | Brighton & Hove Albion U21s | 26  | 11  | 6  | 9  | 58  | 49  | +9  | 39
7  | Arsenal U21s | 26  | 8  | 10  | 8  | 39  | 40  | −1  | 34
8  | Everton U21s | 26  | 9  | 5  | 12  | 39  | 51  | −12  | 32
9  | Manchester United U21s | 26  | 6  | 12  | 8  | 46  | 64  | −18  | 30
10  | Blackburn Rovers U21s | 26  | 9  | 2  | 15  | 42  | 52  | −10  | 29
11  | West Ham United U21s | 26  | 8  | 4  | 14  | 39  | 49  | −10  | 28
12  | Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 | 26  | 8  | 4  | 14  | 39  | 50  | −11  | 28
13  | Tottenham Hotspur U21s (R) | 26  | 6  | 10  | 10  | 34  | 46  | −12  | 28
14  | Leicester City U21s (R) | 26  | 4  | 7  | 15  | 29  | 57  | −28  | 19

Source: [5][6]
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

#### Results

[edit]

Home \ Away  | ARS | BLA | BHA | CHE | CRY | EVE | FUL | LEI | LIV | MNC | MNU | TOT | WHU | WOL

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Arsenal U21ss |  | 4–1  | 3–3  | 4–1  | 1–1  | 3–1  | 1–1  | 2–1  | 0–1  | 0–3  | 3–1  | 1–2  | 1–1  | 1–1
Blackburn Rovers U21s | 1–1  |  | 1–2  | 2–3  | 1–3  | 4–2  | 2–3  | 0–4  | 2–3  | 0–3  | 6–1  | 3–2  | 2–2  | 0–1
Brighton & Hove Albion U21s | 2–2  | 4–2  |  | 2–2  | 2–4  | 1–2  | 1–0  | 3–1  | 1–1  | 3–2  | 3–2  | 4–0  | 3–2  | 3–1
Chelsea U21s | 1–0  | 3–0  | 1–4  |  | 1–2  | 1–1  | 0–3  | 2–2  | 3–1  | 2–2  | 3–3  | 3–0  | 2–3  | 2–0
Crystal Palace U21s | 2–0  | 0–3  | 3–2  | 3–3  |  | 3–4  | 1–2  | 0–0  | 0–1  | 0–5  | 0–0  | 3–0  | 3–3  | 2–1
Everton U21s | 1–4  | 2–0  | 1–0  | 0–2  | 0–1  |  | 1–1  | 0–2  | 1–1  | 6–3  | 2–2  | 1–1  | 1–2  | 3–0
Fulham U21s | 2–1  | 3–0  | 3–2  | 2–4  | 2–2  | 2–0  |  | 2–2  | 0–4  | 2–2  | 1–2  | 4–3  | 3–1  | 2–1
Leicester City U21s | 1–2  | 0–1  | 1–4  | 0–2  | 1–1  | 1–4  | 0–7  |  | 0–1  | 0–0  | 3–2  | 2–2  | 3–1  | 0–1
Liverpool U21s | 1–1  | 1–0  | 2–2  | 0–0  | 0–1  | 2–1  | 3–1  | 7–1  |  | 0–3  | 2–2  | 0–2  | 1–0  | 5–0
Manchester City U21s | 6–0  | 1–3  | 2–1  | 3–1  | 3–3  | 5–0  | 1–0  | 3–1  | 3–1  |  | 6–0  | 0–0  | 4–1  | 4–3
Manchester United U21s | 1–0  | 2–1  | 3–3  | 1–3  | 1–5  | 4–1  | 2–2  | 2–2  | 2–1  | 1–6  |  | 2–2  | 1–1  | 3–2
Tottenham Hotspur U21s | 0–0  | 1–3  | 3–1  | 3–2  | 1–1  | 0–2  | 1–1  | 3–1  | 3–3  | 1–2  | 1–1  |  | 1–0  | 1–1
West Ham United U21s | 2–3  | 1–3  | 3–2  | 0–1  | 0–1  | 1–2  | 1–0  | 2–0  | 0–3  | 1–5  | 2–3  | 1–0  |  | 3–1
Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s | 2–0  | 0–1  | 2–0  | 1–7  | 5–0  | 5–0  | 1–1  | 3–0  | 0–1  | 1–3  | 2–2  | 4–1  | 0–5  |

Source: [1]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

### Division 2

[edit]

As of match played 15 May 2023

#### Table

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Southampton U21s (C, P) | 20  | 13  | 3  | 4  | 54  | 28  | +26  | 42
2  | Leeds United U21s (P) | 20  | 13  | 3  | 4  | 53  | 29  | +24  | 42
3  | Nottingham Forest U21s | 20  | 13  | 2  | 5  | 44  | 28  | +16  | 41
4  | West Bromwich Albion U21s | 20  | 11  | 4  | 5  | 47  | 35  | +12  | 37
5  | Aston Villa U21s | 20  | 10  | 3  | 7  | 46  | 35  | +11  | 33
6  | Norwich City U21s | 20  | 8  | 6  | 6  | 41  | 38  | +3  | 30
7  | Middlesbrough U21s | 20  | 7  | 5  | 8  | 46  | 49  | −3  | 26
8  | Newcastle United U21s | 20  | 6  | 5  | 9  | 35  | 41  | −6  | 23
9  | Sunderland U21s | 20  | 5  | 5  | 10  | 37  | 44  | −7  | 20
10  | Stoke City U21s | 20  | 3  | 5  | 12  | 26  | 45  | −19  | 14
11  | Derby County U21s | 20  | 0  | 1  | 19  | 13  | 70  | −57  | 1

Source: [7]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

#### Results

[edit]

Home \ Away  | AST | DER | LEE | MID | NEW | NOR | NOT | SOU | STK | SUN | WBA

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Aston Villa U21s |  | 3–0  | 1–2  | 3–3  | 1–2  | 2–1  | 1–1  | 1–2  | 1–0  | 6–4  | 2–6
Derby County U21s | 0–2  |  | 2–5  | 1–5  | 1–4  | 0–3  | 0–1  | 1–3  | 1–6  | 0–4  | 1–5
Leeds United U21s | 2–1  | 3–0  |  | 3–1  | 4–2  | 2–2  | 5–1  | 6–2  | 4–0  | 3–1  | 1–2
Middlesbrough U21s | 2–3  | 3–1  | 2–4  |  | 1–1  | 1–3  | 0–1  | 2–2  | 4–1  | 2–0  | 2–4
Newcastle United U21s | 0–2  | 4–0  | 2–2  | 0–0  |  | 4–3  | 2–1  | 3–2  | 0–1  | 1–1  | 2–5
Norwich City U21s | 1–3  | 2–1  | 5–2  | 2–2  | 4–2  |  | 0–3  | 2–5  | 3–0  | 3–2  | 1–1
Nottingham Forest U21s | 4–3  | 7–2  | 1–0  | 1–4  | 3–1  | 4–1  |  | 1–3  | 4–1  | 1–0  | 0–0
Southampton U21s | 2–0  | 3–0  | 1–2  | 8–1  | 4–1  | 1–1  | 0–2  |  | 2–0  | 2–2  | 4–1
Stoke City U21s | 3–3  | 4–0  | 1–1  | 1–2  | 2–2  | 2–2  | 1–2  | 0–3  |  | 2–3  | 0–0
Sunderland U21s | 0–4  | 1–1  | 0–1  | 5–7  | 2–1  | 0–0  | 3–1  | 1–3  | 4–1  |  | 3–3
West Bromwich Albion U21s | 0–4  | 2–1  | 2–1  | 5–2  | 2–1  | 1–2  | 1–5  | 1–2  | 4–0  | 2–1  |

Source: [2]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

##### Play-offs

[edit]

The date for semi-finals is confirmed as 8 May 2023 at 19:00.[8][9]
The date for final is confirmed as 15 May 2023 at 19:00.[10]

| Semi-finals | | | Final |

|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  | | |  |  |  |
| 2 | Leeds United U21s | 2 | |
| 5 | Aston Villa U21s | 1 |
| | Leeds United U21s | 3 |
|  |
| | | Nottingham Forest U21s | 0 |
| 3 | Nottingham Forest U21s | 3 |

| 4 | West Bromwich Albion U21s | 0 |

#### Semifinals

[edit]

8 May 2023

13:00

Leeds United U21s| 2–1| Aston Villa U21s

|
|

* Joseph 29'
* Perkins 43'

| Report |

* Young 16'

Elland Road, Beeston

Attendance: 3,709

Referee: Garreth Rhodes

* * *

8 May 2023

13:00

Nottingham Forest U21s| 3–0| West Bromwich Albion U21s

|
|

* Konate 16'
* Hammond 29'
* Osong 38'

| Report |

Impact Arena, Alfreton

Attendance: 177

Referee: Steven Copeland

#### Final

[edit]

15 May 2023

13:00

Leeds United U21s| 3–0| Nottingham Forest U21s

|
|

* Rutter 20'
* Chilokoa-Mullen 38'
* Moore 54'

| Report |

Elland Road, Beeston

Attendance: 12,546

Referee: Edward Duckworth

## Professional Development League

[edit]

Football league season

U21 Professional Development LeagueSeason| 2022–23

|

Champions| Millwall U21s
Matches played| 283
(280 RS, 3 PO)
Goals scored| 1,001 (3.54 per match)
(987 RS, 14 PO)
Top goalscorer| Louie Marsh Sheffield United U21s (23 Goals)
Biggest home win|  Swansea City U21s 10–1 Birmingham City U21s
(10 May 2023)
Biggest away win|  Burnley U21s 0–6 Hull City U21s
(31 October 2022)
Watford U21s 0–6 Colchester United U21s
(1 November 2022)
Highest scoring|  Swansea City U21s 10–1 Birmingham City U21s
(10 May 2023)
Longest winning run| 7 Matches Millwall U21s
Sheffield United U21s
Longest unbeaten run| 13 Matches Sheffield United U21s
Longest winless run| 10 Matches Sheffield Wednesday U21s
Longest losing run| 8 Matches Watford U21s
Highest attendance| 2,076 Millwall U21s 2–1 Sheffield United U21s
(22 May 2023)

← 2021–22

2023–24 →

The Professional Development League is Under-21 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 28 games being played by both divisions. 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. Coventry City U21s are the defending champions.

20 Teams competed in the league this season, 3 more than the previous season. Burnley U21s and Birmingham City U21s returned to the league after failing to retain Category One Academy status after 2 seasons for Burnley U21s, and 1 season for Birmingham City U21s. Reading U21s joined after temporarily dropping to Category Two status after 10 seasons in the Premier League 2.[11][12][13]

### Tables

[edit]

#### North Division

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Sheffield United U21s | 28  | 18  | 6  | 4  | 59  | 30  | +29  | 60  | Qualification for Knock-out stage
2  | Hull City U21s | 28  | 13  | 3  | 12  | 60  | 48  | +12  | 42
3  | Wigan Athletic U21s | 28  | 13  | 3  | 12  | 56  | 44  | +12  | 42  |
4  | Coventry City U21s | 28  | 11  | 6  | 11  | 44  | 38  | +6  | 39
5  | Burnley U21s | 28  | 11  | 5  | 12  | 45  | 57  | −12  | 38
6  | Peterborough United U21s | 28  | 10  | 7  | 11  | 52  | 55  | −3  | 37
7  | Barnsley U21s | 28  | 10  | 6  | 12  | 41  | 41  | 0  | 36
8  | Crewe Alexandra U21s | 28  | 8  | 7  | 13  | 35  | 56  | −21  | 31
9  | Birmingham City U21s | 28  | 7  | 8  | 13  | 38  | 61  | −23  | 29
10  | Sheffield Wednesday U21s | 28  | 5  | 4  | 19  | 22  | 55  | −33  | 19

Source: [citation needed]

#### South Division

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Millwall U21s | 28  | 18  | 7  | 3  | 70  | 32  | +38  | 61  | Qualification for Knock-out stage
2  | Bristol City U21s | 28  | 16  | 5  | 7  | 47  | 26  | +21  | 53
3  | Swansea City U21s | 28  | 16  | 4  | 8  | 80  | 46  | +34  | 52  |
4  | Cardiff City U21s | 28  | 13  | 3  | 12  | 47  | 57  | −10  | 42
5  | Reading U21 | 28  | 12  | 5  | 11  | 44  | 40  | +4  | 41
6  | Ipswich Town U21s | 28  | 11  | 6  | 11  | 60  | 61  | −1  | 39
7  | Queens Park Rangers U21s | 28  | 10  | 8  | 10  | 54  | 52  | +2  | 38
8  | Charlton Athletic U21s | 28  | 10  | 7  | 11  | 56  | 59  | −3  | 37
9  | Colchester United U21s | 28  | 7  | 7  | 14  | 46  | 63  | −17  | 28
10  | Watford U21s | 28  | 6  | 3  | 19  | 31  | 66  | −35  | 21

Source: [citation needed]

### Knock-out stage

[edit]

Semi-finals

15 May 2023

12:00

Sheffield United U21s| 4–0| Bristol City U21s

|
|

* Marsh 9'
* Osula 42', 67', 71'

| Report |

Brammall Lane, Sheffield

* * *

15 May 2023

14:00

Millwall U21s| 4–3| Hull City U21s

|
|

* Esse 45+1', 90+5'
* Emakhu 73'
* Baker 101'

| Report |

* Wood 8'
* Palit 14'
* Jarvis 49'

The Den, Bermondsey

Professional Development League National Final

22 May 2023

19:00

Millwall U21s| 2–1 (a.e.t.)| Sheffield United U21s

|
|

* Esse 11'
* Okoli 103'

| Report 1 Report 2 |

* Peck 64'

The Den, Bermondsey

Attendance: 2,076

Referee: C Walchester

## See also

[edit]

* 2022–23 in English football

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Premier League 2 becomes under-21 competition". Premier League. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
2. ^ "CLARETS ACADEMY TO OPERATE AS CATEGORY TWO". Burnley FC. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
3. ^ "Blues to operate as Category 2 Academy". Birmingham City. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
4. ^ "OUR ACADEMY TO TAKE CATEGORY TWO STATUS IN 2022-23". Reading FC. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
5. ^ "Premier League 2 Division One". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
6. ^ "Premier League 2 table". Premier League. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
7. ^ "PREMIER LEAGUE 2 DIVISION TWO". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
8. ^ "Leeds United U21 v Aston Villa U21". www.premierleague.com. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
9. ^ "Nottm Forest U21 v West Bromwich Albion U21". www.premierleague.com. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
10. ^ "U21S TICKET AND FIXTURE INFORMATION: NOTTINGHAM FOREST". www.leedsunited.com. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
11. ^ "CLARETS ACADEMY TO OPERATE AS CATEGORY TWO". Burnley FC. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
12. ^ "Blues to operate as Category 2 Academy". Birmingham City. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
13. ^ "OUR ACADEMY TO TAKE CATEGORY TWO STATUS IN 2022-23". Reading FC. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.

* v
* t
* e

2022–23 in English men's football

« 2021–22

2023–24 »

National teams|

* Senior (2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying round, finals)
* U21 (UEFA Euro 2023 qualifying round)
* U19 (UEFA Euro 2022 qualifying round, finals)
* U17 (UEFA Euro 2022 qualifying round, finals)

League
competitions|

| Level 1|

* Premier League

|

Levels 2–4|

* English Football League (Championship, League One, League Two, play-offs)

Levels 5–6|

* National League (National, North, South)

Levels 7–8|

* Isthmian League (Premier, One North, One South Central, One South East)
* Northern Premier League (Premier, One East, One Midlands, One West)
* Southern League (Premier Central, Premier South, One Central, One South)

Levels 9–10|

* Combined Counties League (Premier North, Premier South, One)
* Eastern Counties League (Premier, One North, One South)
* Essex Senior League (level 9 only)
* Hellenic League (Premier, One)
* Midland League (Premier, One)
* Northern Counties East League (Premier, One)
* Northern League (One, Two)
* North West Counties League (Premier, One North, One South)
* Southern Combination League (Premier, One)
* Southern Counties East League (Premier, One)
* South West Peninsula League (Premier East, Premier West \- level 10 only)
* Spartan South Midlands League (Premier, One)
* United Counties League (Premier North, Premier South, One)
* Wessex League (Premier, One)
* Western League (Premier, One)

Cup
competitions|

| FA cups|

* FA Cup (Qualifying rounds, Final)
* FA Community Shield
* FA Trophy (Final)
* FA Vase (Final)

|

EFL cups|

* EFL Cup (Final)
* EFL Trophy (Final)

Youth
competitions|

| Under-21|

* Professional U21 Development League
* Premier League Cup
* Premier League International Cup

|

Under-18|

* Professional U18 Development League
* FA Youth Cup

Club seasons

Premier League|

* Arsenal
* Aston Villa
* Bournemouth
* Brentford
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Chelsea
* Crystal Palace
* Everton
* Fulham
* Leeds United
* Leicester City
* Liverpool
* Manchester City
* Manchester United
* Newcastle United
* Nottingham Forest
* Southampton
* Tottenham Hotspur
* West Ham United
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

Championship|

* Birmingham City
* Blackburn Rovers
* Blackpool
* Bristol City
* Burnley
* Cardiff City
* Coventry City
* Huddersfield Town
* Hull City
* Luton Town
* Middlesbrough
* Millwall
* Norwich City
* Preston North End
* Queens Park Rangers
* Reading
* Rotherham United
* Sheffield United
* Stoke City
* Sunderland
* Swansea City
* Watford
* West Bromwich Albion
* Wigan Athletic

League One|

* Accrington Stanley
* Barnsley
* Bolton Wanderers
* Bristol Rovers
* Burton Albion
* Cambridge United
* Charlton Athletic
* Cheltenham Town
* Derby County
* Exeter City
* Fleetwood Town
* Forest Green Rovers
* Ipswich Town
* Lincoln City
* Milton Keynes Dons
* Morecambe
* Oxford United
* Peterborough United
* Plymouth Argyle
* Portsmouth
* Port Vale
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Shrewsbury Town
* Wycombe Wanderers

League Two|

* AFC Wimbledon
* Barrow
* Bradford City
* Carlisle United
* Colchester United
* Crawley Town
* Crewe Alexandra
* Doncaster Rovers
* Gillingham
* Grimsby Town
* Harrogate Town
* Hartlepool United
* Leyton Orient
* Mansfield Town
* Newport County
* Northampton Town
* Rochdale
* Salford City
* Stevenage
* Stockport County
* Sutton United
* Swindon Town
* Tranmere Rovers
* Walsall

National League|

* Aldershot Town
* Notts County
* Oldham Athletic
* Southend United
* Wrexham

* Summer 2022 transfers
* Winter 2022–23 transfers

* v
* t
* e

Professional Development League

U21/U23|

* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24

U18|

* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24

*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template