The Under-18 Professional Development League brings together 21 Category Two Academies in two regional divisions before a national play-off for the honour of being overall champions.
The competition is one academy tier below the Under-18 Premier League, where the 24 Category One academy clubs play, and is split into the North and South Division, with no promotion or relegation.
Teams in U18 Professional Development League have applied for ‘Category Two’ status in the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP).
Currently there 18 clubs split across the two divisions. Each club plays every team in their regional league twice, once home and once away, and the two top sides from each division go into a play-off for the overall title.
As with the U18 Premier League, only players in the Under-18 category are allowed to play, with the exception of the goalkeeper, who can be in the Under-19 category.
Roll of Honour
2020/21
U18 Professional Development League National Champions: Wigan Athletic
U18 Professional Development League North Division Champions: Wigan Athletic
U18 Professional Development League South Division Champions: Charlton Athletic
2019/20
U18 Professional Development League National Champions: N/A
U18 Professional Development League North Division Champions: N/A
U18 Professional Development League South Division Champions: N/A
*Competitions did not finish due to curtailment of season
2018/19
U18 Professional Development League National Champions: Sheffield Wednesday
U18 Professional Development League North Division Champions: Sheffield Wednesday
U18 Professional Development League South Division Champions: Cardiff City
2017/18
U18 Professional Development League National Champions: Charlton Athletic
U18 Professional Development League North Division Champions: Leeds United
U18 Professional Development League South Division Champions: Crystal Palace
2016/17
U18 Professional Development League National Champions: Sheffield United
U18 Professional Development League North Division Champions: Sheffield United
U18 Professional Development League South Division Champions: Coventry City
2015/16
U18 Professional Development League National Champions: Charlton Athletic
U18 Professional Development League North Division Champions: Nottingham Forest
U18 Professional Development League South Division Champions: Watford
