Premier League 2 is a competition that forms an essential part of the suite of competitive experiences available to players in the Professional Development Phase (PDP), from Under-17 to Under-21.  

These competitions are designed to offer talented young players an experience that closely replicates the first-team level and support their preparation for senior football.

Its aim is to expose players to the rigours and challenges of senior football, while retaining a development focus. 

Players in Premier League 2 (PL2) cannot be older than 21.

The previous format and competition title dates from 2016/17, before which it was called the Under-21 Premier League.

The current format of PL2 was new in 2023/24. Here we explain what changed and why. 

What was the old format for PL2? 

In 2022/23, Premier League 2 comprised the 25 clubs with "Category One" Academies split into two divisions - 14 teams in Division 1 and 11 in Division 2 - with relegation and promotion of two clubs in each division.  

Teams played each other home and away, with the two bottom clubs from Division 1 relegated and the champions of Division 2 going up along with another team determined by a playoff of the teams finishing second to fifth.  

What is the current format for PL2? 

Since the start of the 2023/24 season, there has been only one division, made up of clubs with Category One Academies. Initially featuring 26 such clubs, this has been increased to 29 for the 2025/26 season with the addition of Birmingham City, Burnley and Ipswich Town.

The participating clubs are divided into six seeding pots of five teams (there will be one bye team), based on performances over the previous three seasons.  

Fixtures are determined by a draw made according to clubs' positions in the six seeded pots. 

There are 20 Matchweeks, with each team playing 20 matches during the regular season.  

Teams play each club in their own seeding pot once, as well as three or four teams from all other pots, either home or away. 

Results (three points for a win and one point for a draw) generate a combined table ranking the 29 teams. After the regular season of 20 Matchweeks is completed, the top 16 teams qualify for the elimination playoffs.  

For the elimination playoffs, teams are drawn against each other based on their league positions. For example, the team finishing first will face the team that finished 16th. The playoffs consist of a round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final, all of which will be standalone fixtures.

In addition, the teams that finish the regular season in the top 16 are invited to take part in the Premier League International Cup in the following campaign.

New playoffs for teams from 17th to 24th

In a change for 2025/26, the eight Premier League 2 teams finishing in positions from 17th to 24th will go into a new, cross-category play-off competition with the top eight teams from the Professional Development League (Category 2). This will also consist of a round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

Why was the change of format, to one division, introduced? 

The change came about after an extensive review of PDP competitions, which sought to enhance the transition of talented Academy players into senior football, and engaged various stakeholders, including football directors, Academy managers, first-team coaches and Academy players.   

The removal of relegation introduces positive jeopardy; it supports clubs making development-first decisions, and minimises the impact of relegation on future groups of U21 players.

Also the experience of playoffs has opened up to 16 teams rather than the four in Division 2 of previous seasons. 

The new format also gives teams a greater breadth of fixtures, playing 20 different opponents, compared with only 13 in Division 1 and only 10 in Division 2.  

The single division format also provides greater flexibility to add or decrease the number of fixtures in future seasons, dependent on the number of teams in the league, as well as access to additional development opportunities, including matches against senior teams and international opposition.

Past Premier League 2 champions

2024/25 Manchester City
2023/24 Tottenham Hotspur

Premier League 2 Division 1 winners

2022/23 Manchester City
2021/22 Manchester City
2020/21 Manchester City
2019/20 Chelsea
2018/19 Everton
2017/18 Arsenal
2016/17 Everton
2015/16 Manchester United
2014/15 Manchester United
2013/14 Chelsea
2012/13 Manchester United

Premier League Division 2 winners

2022/23 Southampton
2021/22 Fulham
2020/21 Leeds United
2019/20 West Ham United
2018/19 Wolverhampton Wanderers
2017/18 Blackburn Rovers
2016/17 Swansea City
2015/16 Derby County
2014/15 Middlesbrough