2025–26 Professional U21 Development League

  1. Home
  2. Wiki
Premier League 2
Season2025–26
Dates15 August 2025 – 13 April 2026
Matches124
Goals452 (3.65 per match)
Top goalscorerEngland Aaron Loupalo-Bi (Fulham U21s)
(8 Goals)
Biggest home winBrighton & Hove Albion U21s 4–0 West Bromwich Albion U21s
(August 17)
Manchester City U21s 4–0 Leicester City U21s
(October 31)
Leicester City U21s 6–2 Birmingham City U21s
(7 Novebmber 2024)
Biggest away winNewcastle United U21s 0–5 Chelsea U21s
(August 22)
Highest scoringLeicester City U21s 3–6 Tottenham Hotspur U21s
(September 19)
Longest winning runManchester United U21s
(7 Games)
(18 August 2025 – 25 October 2025)
Longest unbeaten runIpswich Town U21s
(8 Games)
(15 August 2025 – 31 October 2025)
Fulham U21s
(15 August 2025 – Present)
(8 Games)
Longest winless runDerby County U21s
(15 August 2025 – Present)
Reading U21s
(15 August 2025 – Present)
(8 Games)
Longest losing runDerby County U21s
6 Games (15 August 2025 – 3 October 2025)
All statistics correct as of 9 November 2025.

The 2025–26 Premier League 2 is the 14th season of the Professional Development League system. It continues to use the same format as the previous 2 seasons with a change from places 17 to 24.[1] The sides finishing in the top eight positions of the Professional U21 Development League 2 at the end of the season will progress to a playoff stage against teams 17-24. 29 Category One Academies are competing this season, the most in league history. Three teams joined with Category One status with Birmingham City U21s[2], Burnley U21s[3] returning after a three season absence and Ipswich Town U21s[4] playing in the Premier League 2 for the very first time.

Premier League 2

[edit]

Table

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Ipswich Town U21s 9 7 1 1 23 16 +7 22 Qualification to the Elimination Playoffs
and Premier League International Cup
2 Manchester United U21s 8 7 0 1 19 11 +8 21
3 Fulham U21s 8 5 3 0 23 13 +10 18
4 Chelsea U21s 9 6 0 3 20 11 +9 18
5 Southampton U21s 9 5 3 1 20 15 +5 18
6 Tottenham Hotspur U21s 9 5 1 3 22 17 +5 16
7 Stoke City U21s 9 4 4 1 17 13 +4 16
8 Brighton & Hove Albion U21s 9 4 3 2 20 11 +9 15
9 West Ham United U21s 9 4 3 2 18 12 +6 15
10 Leicester City U21s 9 4 2 3 24 22 +2 14
11 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s 8 4 2 2 15 13 +2 14
12 Crystal Palace U21s 8 4 2 2 14 13 +1 14
13 Aston Villa U21s 9 4 1 4 15 16 −1 13 Qualification to the Elimination Playoffs
14 Arsenal U21s 8 3 3 2 13 12 +1 12
15 Everton U21s 9 4 0 5 14 15 −1 12
16 Leeds United U21s 8 3 2 3 15 13 +2 11
17 Norwich City U21s 8 3 2 3 14 15 −1 11 Qualification to the PDL Playoffs
18 Birmingham City U21s 9 3 2 4 15 20 −5 11
19 Manchester City U21s 8 3 1 4 15 13 +2 10
20 Nottingham Forest U21s 9 3 1 5 11 12 −1 10
21 Liverpool U21s 9 3 1 5 18 20 −2 10
22 Blackburn Rovers U21s 8 2 2 4 12 15 −3 8
23 Newcastle United U21s 9 2 2 5 12 20 −8 8
24 Sunderland U21s 8 2 1 5 18 21 −3 7
25 Middlesbrough U21s 8 1 3 4 11 13 −2 6
26 Burnley U21s 9 2 0 7 12 18 −6 6
27 West Bromwich Albion U21s 9 1 3 5 6 17 −11 6
28 Reading U21s 8 0 3 5 7 21 −14 3
29 Derby County U21s 8 0 1 7 9 24 −15 1
Updated to match(es) played on 9 November 2025. Source: Premier League 2 Table

Matches

[edit]
Home \ Away ARS AVL BIR BLB BHA BUR CHE CRY DER EVE FUL IPS LEE LEI LIV MNC MNU MID NEW NOR NFO REA SOU STK SUN TOT WBA WHU WOL
Arsenal U21s — — — — 1–0 23 Jan — — — 6 Feb 2–3 27 Feb — 13 Mar — — — — 13 Feb — — — — — — — 9 Jan 2–2 3–2
Aston Villa U21s — — — — — — 1–2 0–2 — — — 23 Jan 0–3 — — 6 Mar — 10 Apr 6 Feb 13 Mar — — — — 3–3 — — — 2–0
Birmingham City U21s — 30 Jan — — — — 13 Feb — — 16 Jan 1–3 10 Apr — — — 20 Mar 6 Mar — 2–2 — 2–1 — — 2–2 — — — — —
Blackburn Rovers U21s — 2 Mar 26 Jan — 0–4 — — 6 Mar 10 Nov — — — — — — 2–0 — 1–1 — — 12 Jan — — — — 16 Feb — 23 Mar —
Brighton & Hove Albion U21s — 9 Jan 22 Feb — — — — — 3–1 22 Mar 6 Mar — — — 1 Feb 2–0 — 1–1 — — — — — — 6 Feb — 4–0 — —
Burnley U21s — — 0–2 12 Apr 16 Mar — 0–1 — 20 Feb — — — 1–2 — — — — — — — — 30 Jan — — 0–3 16 Jan — — 1–2
Chelsea U21s 2–1 — — 7 Feb — — — 10 Jan — — — 2–4 21 Feb — — 3–1 — — — — — 4–1 31 Jan 1–2 14 Mar — — — —
Crystal Palace U21s 13 Apr — 3–1 — — — — — 26 Jan — 16 Feb — 3–2 — — — — 9 Feb 0–2 — — — — 2–2 2 Mar — — — 16 Mar
Derby County U21s 0–1 16 Jan 0–3 — — — — — — — — — — 0–2 — 13 Feb — 20 Mar — 0–3 30 Jan — — — 9 Jan — — 6 Mar —
Everton U21s — 2–3 — 1–0 — 13 Feb 1–0 — — — 3–4 16 Mar — 9 Jan — 23 Jan 1–2 — — — — — — — 20 Feb — — — —
Fulham U21s — — — — — 27 Feb 10 Apr — 4–4 — — — — — 1–1 — 16 Jan 23 Jan — — 13 Mar — — — — 1–1 2–0 6 Feb —
Ipswich Town U21s — — — — 3–1 23 Mar — 30 Jan 4–3 — 9 Jan — — — 3–2 — — — 1–0 — — — 2–2 13 Feb — — 6 Mar — —
Leeds United U21s 1 Feb — — — 2–2 — — — — — — 2–3 — 13 Apr — — 13 Feb — — 1–0 1–2 — — 17 Jan — 16 Mar — 28 Feb —
Leicester City U21s — 20 Mar 6–2 3–3 — — 26 Jan — — — — — — — 4–2 — 23 Feb — 9 Mar 9 Feb — — 3–1 — — 3–6 — — —
Liverpool U21s 18 Jan — — — — 2–3 — 22 Mar — 4–1 — — 25 Jan — — — 1–2 4–2 — — — — — — — 1 Mar 15 Feb — 8 Mar
Manchester City U21s — — — — — 10 Jan — — — — — — 7 Feb 4–0 13 Mar — — — — 10 Apr 27 Feb 3–0 3–3 — — — — 3–1 20 Feb
Manchester United U21s — — — 0–4 23 Jan — 27 Feb 4–1 6 Feb — — — — — — 2–1 — — 10 Apr 4–2 — — 13 Mar — — 4–1 — — —
Middlesbrough U21s — — 2 Mar — — — — — — 0–1 — 18 Jan — — — — 0–1 — — 2–2 — 5–2 — 16 Mar — 16 Feb — 2 Feb 0–1
Newcastle United U21s — — — 13 Mar 27 Feb 3–2 0–5 — — — 20 Feb — — — — — — 9 Jan — 2–3 — — 1–2 — — 1–4 — — 30 Jan
Norwich City U21s 6 Mar — — — — 1–4 — — — 2–1 30 Jan — — — 9 Jan — — — — — — 1–1 13 Feb 27 Feb — — 20 Mar — 16 Jan
Nottingham Forest U21s 2–2 2–3 — — — — — 17 Jan — — — 0–1 — — 20 Feb — — — 20 Mar — — 25 Jan 6 Mar — 2–0 — 6 Feb — —
Reading U21s 23 Feb — — 19 Jan — — — — 13 Apr 9 Mar 1–5 — 10 Jan 0–0 — — 20 Mar — 1–1 — — — — 7 Feb — — — — —
Southampton U21s 1–1 — — — 16 Jan 2–1 — — 4–1 27 Feb — — 20 Mar — 8 Feb — — 20 Feb — — — — — — 3–2 — 26 Jan — —
Stoke City U21s — 20 Feb — 3–1 — 9 Mar — — — — 23 Mar — — — 1–2 1 Feb — — — — 2–1 — 9 Jan — — 23 Jan 1–1 — —
Sunderland U21s 23 Mar — — — — — — — — — — 4–2 9 Mar 2 Feb — 6 Dec — — 16 Jan — — 16 Feb — 1–2 — 3–5 — 2–4 —
Tottenham Hotspur U21s — — 6 Feb — — — — 2–3 — 30 Jan — — — — — — — 6 Mar — 20 Feb 1–0 — 1–2 — — — 1–0 9 Jan 10 Apr
West Bromwich Albion U21s — 1–3 13 Mar 23 Feb — — — 0–0 2 Mar 0–3 — — 2–2 19 Jan — — 2 Feb — — — — 2–1 — — — — — — —
West Ham United U21s — 1–0 3–0 — 3–3 — 16 Jan 23 Feb — — — — — 16 Feb 3–0 — — — — 23 Jan 0–1 13 Mar — — — — — — —
Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s — — — 3–1 16 Feb — 20 Mar — — — — 6 Feb — 4–3 — — 12 Jan — — — — 2 Mar — 2–2 26 Jan — — 1–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 9 November 2025. Source: Premier League 2 Results
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Hat-tricks

[edit]
As of 8 November 2025
Player For Against Result Date Ref.
Shane Nti Brighton & Hove Albion U21s West Bromwich Albion U21s 4–0 (A) 17 August 2025 [5]
Shumaira Mheuka Chelsea U21s Manchester City U21s 3–1 (H) 18 August 2025 [6]
Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi Sunderland U21s Tottenham Hotspur U21s 3–5 (H) 18 August 2025 [7]
Zach Marsh Crystal Palace U21s Tottenham Hotspur U21s 3–2 (A) 22 August 2025 [8]
Luca Williams-Barnett Tottenham Hotspur U18s Leicester City U21s 3–6 (A) 19 September 2025 [9]
Josh Landers West Ham United U21s Brighton & Hove Albion U21s 3–3 (H) 26 September 2025 [10]
Gabriele Biancheri Manchester United U21s Tottenham Hotspur U21s 4–1 (H) 25 October 2025 [11]
Keyrol Figueroa Liverpool U21s Everton U21s 4–1 (H) 26 October 2025 [12]

Player of the Month

[edit]
Month Player Club Ref.
August England Shumaira Mheuka Chelsea U21s [13]
September England Lucá Williams-Barnett Tottenham Hotspur U21s [14]

Professional Development League

[edit]
Professional Development League 2
Season2025–26
Dates8 August 2025 – 21 April 2026
Matches109
Goals418 (3.83 per match)
Top goalscorerEngland Adam Moseley (Wigan Athletic U21s)
(10 Goals)
Biggest home winSwansea City U21s 6–0 Huddersfield Town U21s
(24 August 2025)
Watford U21s 6–0 Colchester United U21s
(4 November 2025)
Biggest away winCoventry City U21s 0–9 Wigan Athletic U21s
(21 October 2025)
Highest scoringCoventry City U21s 0–9 Wigan Athletic U21s
(21 October 2025)
Watford U21s 5–4 Swansea City U21s
(27 October 2025)
Longest winning run(8 games)
Sheffield United U21s
(24 August 2025 – 14 October 2025)
Longest unbeaten run(9 games)
Sheffield United U21s
(12 August 2025 – 14 October 2025)
Longest winless run(8 games)
Crewe Alexandra U21s
(1 September 2025 – Present)
Colchester United U21s
(1 September 2025 – Present)
Longest losing run(5 games)
Huddersfield Town U21s
(11 August 2025 – 9 September 2025)
All statistics correct as of 8 November 2025.

The Professional Development League, sometimes known as the Professional Development League 2, is Under-21 football's second tier, designed for those academies with Category 2 status. The league, previously split regionally into north and south divisions, is now a single table with teams playing a geographically-aligned fixture schedule. The sides finishing in the top eight positions in both regions at the end of the season will progress to a playoff stage against Premier League 2 opposition. Brentford U21s are the defending champions.

20 teams compete in the league this season, two fewer than the previous season. Three teams joined with Category One status with Birmingham City U21s[15], Burnley U21s[16] returning after a three season absence and six total seasons and founding member Ipswich Town U21s[17] playing in the Premier League 2 for the very first time after 13 seasons. However, Huddersfield Town U21s[18] returned after being granted Category Two academy status after 7 years.

Table

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Sheffield United U21s 12 9 1 2 30 16 +14 28 Qualification for #PL2/PDL Playoffs
2 Peterborough United U21s 12 8 1 3 28 21 +7 25
3 Charlton Athletic U21s 13 6 5 2 30 21 +9 23
4 AFC Bournemouth U21s 11 7 0 4 22 16 +6 21
5 Brentford U21s 10 6 2 2 24 10 +14 20
6 Hull City U21s 11 5 5 1 23 15 +8 20
7 Watford U21s 14 5 4 5 28 29 −1 19
8 Swansea City U21s 9 6 0 3 28 17 +11 18
9 Cardiff City U21s 10 5 2 3 22 12 +10 17
10 Coventry City U21s 10 5 0 5 20 24 −4 15
11 Queens Park Rangers U21s 11 3 5 3 21 25 −4 14
12 Wigan Athletic U21s 11 4 1 6 24 26 −2 13
13 Colchester United U21s 11 3 2 6 16 28 −12 11
14 Bristol City U21s 11 3 1 7 15 23 −8 10
15 Barnsley U21s 9 2 3 4 18 21 −3 9
16 Millwall U21s 10 3 0 7 15 22 −7 9
17 Sheffield Wednesday U21s 11 2 3 6 13 22 −9 9
18 Fleetwood Town U21s 10 1 5 4 10 14 −4 8
19 Huddersfield Town U21s 10 2 2 6 15 25 −10 8
20 Crewe Alexandra U21s 12 1 4 7 16 31 −15 7
Updated to match(es) played on 8 November 2025. Source: Professional Development League table

Matches

[edit]
Home \ Away BOU BAR BRE BRI CAR CHA COL COV CRE FLE HUD HUL MIL PET QPR SHU SHW SWA WIG WAT
AFC Bournemouth U21s — 16 Mar 9 Mar 26 Jan 2 Feb 12 Jan 4–1 — 30 Mar — 3–0 — 23 Feb 0–1 1–4 — 3–0 4–1 — 1–0
Barnsley U21s — — 9 Dec — 24 Mar — 10 Apr 27 Feb 5 Jan 10 Feb 16 Dec 24 Feb — 3–4 2–3 27 Jan 2–2 — 18 Nov 0–3
Brentford U21s 16 Nov — — 1 Feb 6 Apr 15 Feb 28 Feb 15 Mar — 31 Mar — 1–1 19 Apr — 4–0 1–3 — 19 Jan 4–0 4–0
Bristol City U21s 4–0 2–2 2–1 — 20 Jan 1–2 10 Feb — 17 Mar — 31 Mar — 1–4 1–2 24 Feb — 2–1 13 Jan — 10 Mar
Cardiff City U21s 1–2 — 27 Jan 2–1 — 10 Mar 24 Feb 9 Dec — 17 Mar — 31 Mar 4–0 — 2–3 1–1 — 10 Feb 1–2 13 Jan
Charlton Athletic U21s 9 Dec 1–1 1–1 3 Mar 18 Nov — 27 Jan — 3–3 — 17 Mar — 3 Feb 31 Mar 2–2 — 5–0 23 Feb — 3–1
Colchester United U21s 16 Jan — 2–3 25 Nov 11 Nov 2–2 — 3–2 — 1–1 — 17 Mar 9 Jan — 30 Jan 31 Mar — 6 Mar 4–1 13 Feb
Coventry City U21s 3–2 5 Dec — 2–0 — 23 Mar — — 13 Jan 10 Mar 27 Jan 2–3 14 Apr 1–2 — 24 Feb 3 Feb 0–1 0–9 —
Crewe Alexandra U21s — 2 Feb 0–3 — 0–3 — 23 Mar 0–4 — 1–1 17 Nov 26 Jan — 23 Feb 13 Apr 2–3 1–1 — 2 Mar 2–3
Fleetwood Town U21s 2 Dec 1–2 — 3–0 — 0–2 — 18 Nov 17 Feb — 3 Mar 1–1 24 Mar 27 Jan — 3 Feb 16 Dec 14 Apr 25 Nov —
Huddersfield Town U21s — 17 Feb 1–2 — 2–2 — 0–2 21 Apr 10 Mar 2 Dec — 10 Feb — 4–1 24 Mar 13 Jan 11 Nov — 20 Jan 14 Apr
Hull City U21s 14 Apr 11 Nov — 9 Dec — 2–4 — 20 Jan 4–1 13 Jan 2–2 — 1–0 4–1 — 10 Mar 17 Feb 24 Mar 3 Feb —
Millwall U21s 11 Nov 0–4 10 Feb 17 Feb 3 Mar 2–4 4–0 — 2–3 — 2–0 — — 17 Mar 18 Nov — 31 Mar 6 Jan — 20 Jan
Peterborough United U21s — 20 Jan 14 Apr — 1–4 — 2–1 18 Feb 12 Nov 2–0 3 Feb 3 Mar — — 2–2 6–1 18 Nov — 4–0 24 Mar
Queens Park Rangers U21s 10 Feb — 13 Jan 11 Nov 17 Feb 20 Jan 9 Dec 3–4 — 2–2 — 1–1 10 Mar — — 17 Mar — 0–4 27 Mar 1–1
Sheffield United U21s 23 Mar 5–2 — 14 Apr — 3–1 — 10 Nov 20 Jan 2–0 3–1 18 Nov 2–0 10 Feb — — 3 Mar 21 Apr 17 Feb —
Sheffield Wednesday U21s — 9 Jan 20 Mar — 10 Apr — 3–0 1–2 6 Feb 16 Jan 20 Feb 0–2 — 6 Mar 25 Nov 0–1 — — 2–1 3–3
Swansea City U21s 17 Feb 30 Mar 3 Dec 4–1 13 Mar 3–0 20 Nov — 3–2 — 6–0 — 27 Jan 7 Apr 2 Mar — 16 Mar — — 3 Feb
Wigan Athletic U21s 1–2 10 Mar — 24 Mar — 14 Apr — 10 Feb 1–1 24 Feb 2–5 16 Dec 2 Dec 13 Jan — 2–1 27 Jan 5–2 — —
Watford U21s 3 Mar — 24 Feb 17 Nov 0–2 9 Feb 6–0 27 Mar — 1–1 — 2–2 3–1 — 27 Jan 0–5 — 5–4 13 Mar —
Updated to match(es) played on 8 November 2025. Source: Professional Development League Results
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Hat-tricks

[edit]
As of 8 November 2025
Player For Against Result Date Ref.
Jevan Beattie Sheffield United U21s Watford U21s 5–0 (A) 5 September 2025 [19]
Adam Moseley4 Wigan Athletic U21s Tottenham Hotspur U18s 5–2 (H) 16 September 2025 [20]
Louie Marsh Sheffield United U21s Barnsley U21s 5–2 (H) 14 October 2025 [21]
Adam Moseley4 Wigan Athletic U21s Coventry City U21s 9–0 (A) 21 October 2025 [22]
Cole Simms Wigan Athletic U21s Coventry City U21s 9–0 (A) 21 October 2025 [23]
Note

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

Knock-out stage

[edit]

Semi-finals

v
v

Professional Development League National Final

v

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Premier League 2: Competition format explained". Premier League. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Birmingham City Academy Awarded Category One Status". Birmingham City FC. 6 May 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  3. ^ "ACADEMY ACHIEVES ELITE CATEGORY ONE STATUS". Burnley FC. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  4. ^ "ACADEMY AWARDED CATEGORY ONE STATUS". Ipswich Town FC. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  5. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace". Premier League. 17 August 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  6. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Chelsea v Manchester City". Premier League. 18 August 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  7. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur". Premier League. 18 August 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  8. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace". Premier League. 22 August 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  9. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur". Premier League. 19 September 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  10. ^ "U21S Match Summary: West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion". Premier League. 26 September 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  11. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur". Premier League. 25 October 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  12. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Liverpool v Everton". Premier League. 26 October 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  13. ^ "Mheuka wins PL2 Player of the Month for August". premierleague.com. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  14. ^ "Williams-Barnett named PL2 Player of the Month for September". premierleague.com. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Birmingham City Academy Awarded Category One Status". Birmingham City FC. 6 May 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  16. ^ "ACADEMY ACHIEVES ELITE CATEGORY ONE STATUS". Burnley FC. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  17. ^ "ACADEMY AWARDED CATEGORY ONE STATUS". Ipswich Town FC. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  18. ^ "ACADEMY UPGRADED TO CATEGORY TWO STATUS". Huddersfield Town AFC. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  19. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Watford v Sheffield United". Youth Hawk. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  20. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Wigan Athletic v Swansea City". Youth Hawk. 16 September 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  21. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Sheffield United v Barnsley". Youth Hawk. 14 October 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  22. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Coventry City v Wigan Athletic". Youth Hawk. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  23. ^ "U21S Match Summary: Coventry City v Wigan Athletic". Youth Hawk. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.