2023–24_Professional_U21_Development_League
2023–24 Professional U21 Development League
Football league season
The 2023–24 Professional U21 Development League is the 12th season of the Professional Development League system.
Quick Facts Season, Matches played ...
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 273 (260 RS, 13 PO) |
| Goals scored | 1,093 (4 per match) (1026 RS, 67 PO) |
| Top goalscorer | Will Lankshear (18 goals) (3 playoffs) (21 total goals) |
| Biggest home win | Manchester United U21 10–1 Stoke City U21 |
| Biggest away win | Leeds United U21 1–7 Crystal Palace U21 Manchester City U21 0–6 Norwich City U21 Newcastle United U21 1–7 Chelsea U21 |
| Highest scoring | Manchester United U21 10-1 Stoke City U21 |
| Longest winning run | 11 Tottenham Hotspur U21 August 12, 2023- January 27, 2024 |
| Longest unbeaten run | 12 Tottenham Hotspur U21 August 12, 2023-February 17, 2024 |
| Longest losing run | 4 |
| Highest attendance | 3,040 Leeds United U21 2–5 West Ham United U21 August 25, 2023 |
← 2022–23 2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 19 March 2024. | |
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The Premier League 2 changed format for 2023–24 with one division instead of two.[1]
Table
More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tottenham Hotspur U21 (C) | 20 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 54 | 28 | +26 | 46 | Qualification to the Elimination Playoffs and Premier League International Cup |
| 2 | West Ham United U21 | 20 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 53 | 29 | +24 | 42 | |
| 3 | Fulham U21 | 20 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 52 | 30 | +22 | 38 | |
| 4 | Chelsea U21 | 20 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 53 | 32 | +21 | 36 | |
| 5 | Arsenal U21 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 47 | 33 | +14 | 36 | |
| 6 | Reading U21 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 35 | |
| 7 | Sunderland U21 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 45 | 32 | +13 | 34 | |
| 8 | Liverpool U21 | 20 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 34 | 27 | +7 | 33 | |
| 9 | Crystal Palace U21 | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 49 | 42 | +7 | 31 | |
| 10 | Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 39 | 36 | +3 | 31 | |
| 11 | Middlesbrough U21 | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 38 | 39 | −1 | 31 | |
| 12 | Manchester United U21 | 20 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 56 | 43 | +13 | 29 | |
| 13 | Brighton & Hove Albion U21 | 20 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 35 | 38 | −3 | 29 | Qualification to the Elimination Playoffs |
| 14 | Nottingham Forest U21 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 30 | 33 | −3 | 28 | |
| 15 | Blackburn Rovers U21 | 20 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 41 | 58 | −17 | 27 | |
| 16 | Aston Villa U21 | 20 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 40 | 48 | −8 | 25 | |
| 17 | Southampton U21 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 43 | 47 | −4 | 24 | |
| 18 | Norwich City U21 | 20 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 43 | 42 | +1 | 23 | |
| 19 | Stoke City U21 | 20 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 38 | 55 | −17 | 23 | |
| 20 | Leicester City U21 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 33 | 41 | −8 | 20 | |
| 21 | West Bromwich Albion U21 | 20 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 24 | 36 | −12 | 19 | |
| 22 | Newcastle United U21 | 20 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 29 | 46 | −17 | 19 | |
| 23 | Manchester City U21 | 20 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 32 | 50 | −18 | 18 | |
| 24 | Leeds United U21 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 28 | 48 | −20 | 18 | |
| 25 | Everton U21 | 20 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 25 | 40 | −15 | 17 | |
| 26 | Derby County U21 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 30 | 38 | −8 | 16 |
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Results
More information Home \ Away, ARS ...
| Home \ Away | ARS | AVL | BLB | BHA | CHE | CRY | DER | EVE | FUL | LEE | LEI | LIV | MNC | MNU | MID | NEW | NOR | NFO | REA | SOU | STK | SUN | TOT | WBA | WHU | WOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal U21 | — | 3–5 | — | 6–3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1–1 | 4–1 | — | 3–3 | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | 3–0 | 4–2 | — | — | 1–1 | — | 3–0 | — |
| Aston Villa U21 | — | — | — | — | 0–4 | — | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | — | — | — | 4–0 | — | 1–4 | — | — | — | 2–2[lower-alpha 1] | 2–3 | — | 0–3 | — | — |
| Blackburn Rovers U21 | 2–2 | 2–3 | — | — | — | 3–3 | — | — | — | — | 4–1 | 1–0 | — | 2–5 | — | 2–1 | — | — | — | — | 3–6 | 0–4 | — | — | 1–3 | — |
| Brighton & Hove Albion U21 | — | 2–1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2–4 | 0–0 | 4–2 | — | — | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | — | — | — | — | 2–1 | 1–4 | — |
| Chelsea U21 | 2–4 | — | 6–1 | 2–3 | — | — | — | — | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | — | — | 3–2 | — | — | — | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–0 | — | — | — | 3–0 | — | — |
| Crystal Palace U21 | — | 4–2 | — | 2–1 | 2–2 | — | — | 0–0 | 2–5 | — | — | 2–4 | — | 3–2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5–0[lower-alpha 2] | 3–0 | 1–5 | — |
| Derby County U21 | — | — | 1–3 | 2–3 | — | — | — | 3–0 | — | — | — | 1–1 | 4–2 | — | — | — | — | 0–1 | 5–1 | — | 1–2 | — | 0–2 | — | — | 1–2 |
| Everton U21 | 1–1 | — | 2–3 | 0–4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4–3 | — | 1–1 | — | — | — | 2–1 | 1–2 | — | 5–0 | — | — | — | 1–3 | — | 0–2 |
| Fulham U21 | — | — | 1–2 | 3–0 | — | — | 2–1 | — | — | — | 1–3 | — | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | — | — | 7–1 | 5–1 | — | — | 0–2 | — | — | — |
| Leeds United U21 | — | — | — | — | 0–2 | 1–7 | 3–0 | 1–1[lower-alpha 3] | 3–5 | — | — | 2–2 | — | — | — | — | 0–2 | — | — | — | 2–1 | 1–3 | — | — | 2–5 | — |
| Leicester City U21 | — | — | — | — | — | 1–1[lower-alpha 4] | 2–1 | — | — | 2–0 | — | — | 1–3 | — | 1–3 | 2–2[lower-alpha 5] | 2–3 | — | — | 1–2 | 3–0 | — | — | — | — | 1–3 |
| Liverpool U21 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | — | 2–1 | — | — | 4–0 | 2–0 | — | — | — | 2–0 | — | 1–4 | — | — | — | — | — | 3–1 | — | — | — | 0–4 | 2–0 |
| Manchester City U21 | — | 4–4 | — | — | 1–2 | 0–3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0–6 | 2–0 | — | — | — | 2–2 | 0–5 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–3 |
| Manchester United U21 | 2–4 | — | — | 1–1 | — | — | 2–4 | 3–1 | — | 1–2 | — | 0–3 | 2–1 | — | — | 3–2 | 4–2 | — | — | — | 10–1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Middlesbrough U21 | — | — | — | — | 1–3 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 2–2 | — | — | — | — | — | 3–2 | — | 3–2[lower-alpha 6] | — | — | — | — | 4–1 | — | 1–2 | 0–1 | — | 3–2 |
| Newcastle United U21 | — | 0–1[lower-alpha 7] | — | — | 1–7 | — | — | 1–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | — | 1–2 | 0–4 | — | — | — | — | 1–1 | — | 5–3 | — | — | — | 3–2 | — | — |
| Norwich City U21 | — | — | 4–0 | — | 3–2 | — | — | — | 3–3 | — | — | — | — | — | 2–3 | — | — | 2–2 | — | 0–2 | — | — | 3–4 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–4 |
| Nottingham Forest U21 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–5 | — | — | 4–3 | — | — | — | 4–0 | — | — | — | 0–0 | 2–2 | — | — | — | 0–0[lower-alpha 8] | — | — | 0–5 | — | — | — | 2–2 |
| Reading U21s | — | — | 7–2 | — | — | 2–0 | — | — | — | 3–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | — | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | — | — | — | — | 2–1 | — | — | — | — |
| Southampton U21 | — | 4–2 | — | — | — | 4–0 | 2–1 | — | — | — | — | 0–3 | — | 3–6[lower-alpha 9] | — | — | — | 1–1 | 6–0 | — | 5–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | — | — | — |
| Stoke City U21 | 2–2 | — | — | 4–3 | — | 1–3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5–1 | — | — | 1–2 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | — | — | — | 0–2 | — | — | 2–1 |
| Sunderland U21 | 1–2 | — | — | 1–1 | — | — | 3–1 | — | — | — | 4–2[lower-alpha 10] | 2–1 | — | 5–5 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | — | — | — | — | — | 2–4 | — | — | — |
| Tottenham Hotspur U21 | — | 5–3 | 4–0 | — | 4–2 | — | — | 1–2 | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | 2–2[lower-alpha 11] | — | 4–1 | — | — | 2–2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| West Bromwich Albion U21 | 3–0[lower-alpha 12] | — | 3–3 | — | — | — | 0–1 | — | 0–3 | 4–2 | — | — | — | 0–3 | — | — | — | — | 0–0 | 1–1 | — | 0–0 | — | — | 2–4 | — |
| West Ham United U21 | — | — | — | — | 0–2 | — | 3–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | — | 1–3 | — | — | — | 5–0 | — | — | 3–1 | — | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | — | — | — | — |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 | 2–1 | — | 1–2 | 1–1 | — | 3–2 | — | — | 2–3 | 2–0 | — | — | — | — | — | 2–2 | — | — | — | 2–1 | — | 1–2 | — | 3–0 | — | — |
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Source: Premier League 2 Results
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
Elimination Playoffs
| Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Tottenham Hotspur U21 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Aston Villa U21 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Tottenham Hotspur U21 | 3 (5) | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Liverpool U21 | 3 (4) | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Liverpool U21 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Crystal Palace U21 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Tottenham Hotspur U21 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Chelsea U21 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Arsenal U21 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Manchester United U21 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Arsenal U21 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Chelsea U21 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Chelsea U21 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Brighton & Hove Albion U21 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Tottenham Hotspur U21 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Reading U21 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Middlesbrough U21 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Reading U21 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Nottingham Forest U21 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Fulham U21 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Nottingham Forest U21 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Reading U21 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Sunderland U21 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Sunderland U21 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Sunderland U21 | 3 (5) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | West Ham United U21 | 3 (3) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | West Ham United U21 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Blackburn Rovers U21 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
Round of 16
More information Arsenal U21, 6–2 ...
| Arsenal U21 | 6–2 | Manchester United U21 |
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More information Chelsea U21, 5–4 (a.e.t.) ...
| Chelsea U21 | 5–4 (a.e.t.) | Brighton & Hove Albion U21 |
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More information West Ham United U21, 4–1 ...
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More information Liverpool U21, 3–2 ...
| Liverpool U21 | 3–2 | Crystal Palace U21 |
|---|---|---|
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More information Tottenham Hotspur U21, 4–3 (a.e.t.) ...
| Tottenham Hotspur U21 | 4–3 (a.e.t.) | Aston Villa U21 |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
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More information Sunderland U21, 4–1 ...
| Sunderland U21 | 4–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 |
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More information Fulham U21, 0–2 ...
| Fulham U21 | 0–2 | Nottingham Forest U21 |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
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Quarterfinals
More information Arsenal U21, 2–3 ...
| Arsenal U21 | 2–3 | Chelsea U21 |
|---|---|---|
Lewis-Skelly  13' Butler-Oyedeji 55' |
Report | Diego Moreira 45+2', 80', 90+5' |
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More information Reading U21, 3–1 ...
| Reading U21 | 3–1 | Nottingham Forest U21 |
|---|---|---|
| Wareham 8' (pen.) Clarke 33', 67' |
Report | Esapa Osong 38' |
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More information Tottenham Hotspur U21, 3–3 (a.e.t.) ...
| Tottenham Hotspur U21 | 3–3 (a.e.t.) | Liverpool U21 |
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| Penalties | ||
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5–4[5] | |
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More information Sunderland U21, 3–3 (a.e.t.) ...
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Semifinals
More information Tottenham Hotspur U21, 2–1 ...
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Final
Quick Facts Season, Matches played ...
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 310 |
| Goals scored | 1,189 (3.84 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Daniel Adu-Adjei, Patrick Casey (18 Goals) |
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
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The Professional Development League 2 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 30 games played for the North Division, while the south division played 29 games. 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. Millwall are the defending champions while Bournemouth and Fleetwood Town join Category Two for the 2023-24 season.
Tables
North Division
More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheffield United U21s | 30 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 83 | 34 | +49 | 63 | Qualification for Knock-out stage |
| 2 | Birmingham City U21s | 30 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 59 | 36 | +23 | 55 | |
| 3 | Sheffield Wednesday U21s | 30 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 58 | 34 | +24 | 54 | |
| 4 | Barnsley U21s | 30 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 65 | 44 | +21 | 54 | |
| 5 | Hull City U21s | 30 | 14 | 3 | 13 | 59 | 63 | −4 | 45 | |
| 6 | Burnley U21s | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 53 | 57 | −4 | 42 | |
| 7 | Fleetwood Town U21s | 30 | 13 | 3 | 14 | 48 | 58 | −10 | 42 | |
| 8 | Peterborough United U21s | 30 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 47 | 73 | −26 | 27 | |
| 9 | Wigan Athletic U21s | 30 | 7 | 5 | 18 | 44 | 66 | −22 | 26 | |
| 10 | Coventry City U21s | 30 | 7 | 5 | 18 | 41 | 67 | −26 | 26 | |
| 11 | Crewe Alexandra U21s | 30 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 37 | 90 | −53 | 19 |
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South Division
More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Millwall U21s | 29 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 80 | 45 | +35 | 59 | Qualification for Knock-out stage |
| 2 | Swansea City U21s | 29 | 16 | 3 | 10 | 72 | 49 | +23 | 51 | |
| 3 | AFC Bournemouth U21s | 29 | 16 | 3 | 10 | 60 | 45 | +15 | 51 | |
| 4 | Queens Park Rangers U21s | 29 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 66 | 43 | +23 | 49 | |
| 5 | Ipswich Town U21s | 29 | 14 | 4 | 11 | 63 | 59 | +4 | 46 | |
| 6 | Watford U21s | 29 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 45 | 66 | −21 | 37 | |
| 7 | Bristol City U21s | 29 | 10 | 5 | 14 | 43 | 63 | −20 | 35 | |
| 8 | Charlton Athletic U21s | 29 | 9 | 4 | 16 | 63 | 64 | −1 | 31 | |
| 9 | Cardiff City U21s | 29 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 55 | 66 | −11 | 31 | |
| 10 | Colchester United U21s | 29 | 9 | 4 | 16 | 48 | 67 | −19 | 31 |
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Knock-out stage
Semi-finals
More information Millwall U21s, 1–2 (a.e.t.) ...
| Millwall U21s | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Birmingham City U21s |
|---|---|---|
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Professional Development League National Final
More information Birmingham City U21s, v ...
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- "Reformatting of Premier League 2 for 2023/24 explained". Premier League. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- "WE'RE BACK! OUR ACADEMY REGAINS CATEGORY ONE STATUS". Reading F.C. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- "U21s drawn against Chelsea in PL2 quarter-final". Arsenal F.C. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- "U21 Quarter Final Details Confirmed". Reading F.C. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- "Under-21s march on after shoot-out success against Liverpool". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- "Under-21s to host Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – tickets available now". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- "SAFC U21s 3-3 West Ham United U21s (5-3 pens)". Sunderland A.F.C. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- "PL2 play-offs: Quarter-finals confirmed". Sunderland A.F.C. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- "Away derby for Under-21s in PL2 semis". Chelsea F.C. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- "Stoppage-time Nile John winner hands Under-21s victory over Chelsea". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- "PL2 Play-Off semi-final confirmed". Sunderland A.F.C. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- "Millwall's Under 21s suffer extra-time Semi-Final defeat". Millwall F.C. 18 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- "Dixon double sends Blues Under-21s into national final". Birmingham City F.C. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.