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.

Premier League 2
Season2022–23
ChampionsManchester City U21s (3rd Title)
Division 2
Southampton U21s (1st Title)
PromotedSouthampton U21s
Leeds United U21s
RelegatedTottenham Hotspur U21s
Leicester City U21s
Matches295
(292 RS, 3 PO)
Goals1,098 (3.72 per match)
( 1,089 RS, 9 PO)
Top goalscorer
Overall
Carlos Borges Manchester City U21s
(21 Goals)
Division 1
Carlos Borges Manchester City U21s
(21 Goals)
Division 2
Reyes Cleary West Bromwich Albion U21s
Mateo Joseph Leeds United U21s
(16 Goals Each)
Biggest home winSouthampton U21s 8–1 Middlesbrough U21s
(30 October 2022)
Biggest away winLeicester City U21s 0–7 Fulham U21s
(10 October 2022)
Highest scoringSunderland U21s 5–7 Middlesbrough U21s
(9 January 2023) Record
Longest winning run4 Matches Manchester City U21s
Longest unbeaten run11 Matches Manchester City U21s
Longest winless run20 matches Entire season Derby County U21s
Longest losing run12 matches Derby County U21s
(5 August 2022-13 February 2023)
Highest attendance12,546 Leeds United U21s 3–0 Nottingham Forest U21s
(15 May 2023) Play-Off Final
Lowest attendance30 Derby County U21s 0–2 Aston Villa U21s
(29 October 2022)

Premier League 2

Division 1

As of match played 8 May 2023

Table

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

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

As of match played 15 May 2023

Table

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

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

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

Leeds United U21s2–1Aston Villa U21s
  • Joseph 29'
  • Perkins 43'
 Report
Attendance: 3,709
Referee: Garreth Rhodes
Nottingham Forest U21s3–0West Bromwich Albion U21s
 Report
Attendance: 177
Referee: Steven Copeland

Final

Leeds United U21s3–0Nottingham Forest U21s
 Report
Attendance: 12,546
Referee: Edward Duckworth

Hat-tricks

As of 15 May 2023
Player For Against Result Date Division Ref.
Mateo Joseph4 Leeds United U21s Derby County U21s 5–2 (A) 5 August 2022 Division 2 [11]
Luke Harris Fulham U21s Chelsea U21s 3–0 (A) 15 August 2022 Division 1 [12]
Max Thompson Sunderland U21s Derby County U21s 4–0 (A) 21 August 2022 Division 2 [13]
Evan Ferguson Brighton & Hove Albion U21s Leicester City U21s 4–1 (A) 3 September 2022 Division 1 [14]
John-Kymani Gordon Crystal Palace U21s Tottenham Hotspur U21s 3–0 (H) 3 September 2022 Division 1 [15]
Patrick Bamford Leeds United U21s Southampton U21s 6–2 (H) 16 September 2022 Division 2 [16]
Mateo Joseph Leeds United U21s Stoke City U21s 4–0 (H) 30 September 2022 Division 2 [17]
Layton Stewart Liverpool U21s Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s 4–0 (H) 8 October 2022 Division 1 [18]
Reyes Cleary West Bromwich Albion U21s Middlesbrough U21s 5–2 (H) 10 October 2022 Division 2 [19]
Mateo Joseph Leeds United U21s Middlesbrough U21s 4–2 (A) 22 October 2022 Division 2 [20]
Sékou Mara4 Southampton U21s Middlesbrough U21s 8–1 (H) 30 October 2022 Division 2 [21]
Theo Walcott Southampton U21s Middlesbrough U21s 8–1 (H) 30 October 2022 Division 2 [22]
Carlos Borges4 Manchester City U21s Manchester United U21s 6–1 (A) 5 November 2022 Division 1 [23]
Max Dean Leeds United U21s Newcastle United U21s 4–2 (H) 7 November 2022 Division 2 [24]
Omari Forson Manchester United U21s Everton U21s 4–1 (H) 11 February 2023 Division 1 [25]
Harry Gardiner Sunderland U21s Stoke City U21s 4–1 (H) 6 March 2023 Division 2 [26]
Jeremy Sivi Middlesbrough U21s Derby County U21s 5–1 (A) 24 March 2023 Division 2 [27]
Reyes Cleary West Bromwich Albion U21s Derby County U21s 5–1 (A) 3 April 2023 Division 2 [28]
Cameron Peupion Brighton & Hove Albion U21s Manchester City U21s 3–2 (H) 9 April 2023 Division 1 [29]
Owen Farmer Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s Everton U21s 5–0 (H) 10 April 2023 Division 1 [30]
Nathan Fraser Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s Crystal Palace U21s 5–0 (H) 24 April 2023 Division 1 [31]
Note

(H) – Home; (A) – Away
4 – player scored 4 goals

Professional Development League

U21 Professional Development League
Season2022–23
ChampionsMillwall U21s (1st Title)
Regular Season ChampionsMillwall U21s (1st Title)
Matches283
(280 RS, 3 PO)
Goals1,001 (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 run7 Matches Millwall U21s
Sheffield United U21s
Longest unbeaten run13 Matches Sheffield United U21s
Longest winless run10 Matches Sheffield Wednesday U21s
Longest losing run8 Matches Watford U21s
Highest attendance2,076 Millwall U21s 2–1 Sheffield United U21s
(22 May 2023)

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.[32][33][34]

Tables

North Division

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:

South Division

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 U21s 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:

Knock-out stage

Semi-finals

Sheffield United U21s4–0Bristol City U21s
 Report
Millwall U21s4–3Hull City U21s
 Report

Professional Development League National Final

Millwall U21s2–1 (a.e.t.)Sheffield United U21s
 Report 1 Report 2
Attendance: 2,076
Referee: C Walchester

Hat-tricks

As of 22 May 2023
Player For Against Result Date Ref.
Jim Simms Hull City U21s Watford U21s 5–0 (H) 22 August 2022 [35]
Gavin Whyte Cardiff City U21s Sheffield United U21s 3–0 (A) 23 August 2022 [36]
Sinclair Armstrong Queens Park Rangers U21s Cardiff City U21s 5–3 (A) 16 September 2022 [37]
Dara Costelloe Burnley U21s Coventry City U21s 3–1 (A) 18 October 2022 [38]
Femi Azeez Reading U21s Ipswich Town U21s 7–2 (A) 4 November 2022 [39]
Chris Sze Wigan Athletic U21s Birmingham City U21s 5–0 (H) 16 January 2023 [40]
Connor Evans Crewe Alexandra U21s Burnley U21s 4–3 (A) 24 January 2023 [41]
Connor Evans Crewe Alexandra U21s Ipswich Town U21s 3–2 (H) 27 March 2023 [42]
Ruben Davies4 Swansea City U21s Ipswich Town U21s 5–3 (H) 31 March 2023 [43]
Matheus Martins Watford U21s Peterborough United U21s 7–0 (H) 31 March 2023 [44]
Seb Palmer-Houlden Bristol City U21s Ipswich Town U21s 4–1 (H) 11 April 2023 [45]
Louie Marsh Sheffield United U21s Colchester United U21s 7–1 (H) 2 May 2023 [46]
William Osula Sheffield United U21s Colchester United U21s 7–1 (H) 2 May 2023 [47]
Harry Wood Hull City U21s Charlton Athletic U21s 5–0 (A) 9 May 2023 [48]
Josh Thomas4 Swansea City U21s Birmingham City U21s 10–1 (H) 10 May 2023 [49]
William Osula Sheffield United U21s Bristol City U21s 4–0 (H) 15 May 2023 [50]
Note

(H) – Home; (A) – Away
4 – player scored 4 goals

See also

References

  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. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Derby County v Leeds United". Premier League. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  12. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Chelsea v Fulham". Premier League. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  13. ^ "MATCH REPORT: DERBY COUNTY U21S 0-4 SUNDERLAND U21S". Derby County FC. 21 August 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  14. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Leicester City v Brighton & Hove Albion". Premier League. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  15. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur". Premier League. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  16. ^ "U21S REPORT: LEEDS UNITED 6-2 SOUTHAMPTON". Leeds United. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  17. ^ "U21S REPORT: LEEDS UNITED 4-0 STOKE CITY". Leeds United. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  18. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers". Premier League. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  19. ^ "U21S Match Summary: West Bromwich Albion v Middlesbrough". Premier League. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  20. ^ "U21 REPORT: MIDDLESBROUGH 2-4 LEEDS UNITED". Leeds United. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  21. ^ "Match Report: Southampton U21s 8 Boro U21s 1". Middlesbrough FC. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  22. ^ "Match Report: Southampton U21s 8 Boro U21s 1". Middlesbrough FC. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  23. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Manchester United v Manchester City". Premier League. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  24. ^ "U21S REPORT: LEEDS UNITED 4-2 NEWCASTLE UNITED". Leeds United. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  25. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Manchester United v Everton". Premier League. 11 February 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  26. ^ "U21 Report: SAFC U21 4-1 Stoke City U21". Sunderland AFC. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  27. ^ "U21 HIGHLIGHTS: DERBY COUNTY 1-5 MIDDLESBROUGH". Derby County FC. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  28. ^ "U21 REPORT: DERBY COUNTY 1-5 WEST BROMWICH ALBION". Derby County FC. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  29. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City". Premier League. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  30. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton". Premier League. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  31. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace". Premier League. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  32. ^ "CLARETS ACADEMY TO OPERATE AS CATEGORY TWO". Burnley FC. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  33. ^ "Blues to operate as Category 2 Academy". Birmingham City. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  34. ^ "OUR ACADEMY TO TAKE CATEGORY TWO STATUS IN 2022-23". Reading FC. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  35. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Hull City v Watford". Youth Hawk. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  36. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Sheffield United v Cardiff City". Youth Hawk. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  37. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Cardiff City v Queens Park Rangers". Youth Hawk. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  38. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Coventry City v Burnley". Youth Hawk. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  39. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Ipswich Town v Reading". Youth Hawk. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  40. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Wigan Athletic v Birmingham City". Youth Hawk. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  41. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Burnley v Crewe Alexandra". Youth Hawk. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  42. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Crewe Alexandra v Ipswich Town". Youth Hawk. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  43. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Swansea City v Ipswich Town". Youth Hawk. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  44. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Watford v Peterborough United". Youth Hawk. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  45. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Bristol City v Ipswich Town". Youth Hawk. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  46. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Sheffield United v Colchester United". Youth Hawk. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  47. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Sheffield United v Colchester United". Youth Hawk. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  48. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Charlton Athletic v Hull City". Youth Hawk. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  49. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Swansea City v Birmingham City". Youth Hawk. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  50. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Sheffield United v Bristol City". Youth Hawk. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
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