2021–22 Professional U23 Development League

The 2021–22 Professional U23 Development League was the tenth season of the Professional Development League system.

Nottingham Forest U23s and Birmingham City U23s both gained category one status. Manchester City U23s were the defending champions and successfully defend the title.^[1] Leeds United U23s and Crystal Palace U23s were both promoted and Southampton U23s were relegated.

Premier League 2

Season	2021-22
Champions	Manchester City U23s (2nd Title) Division 2 Fulham U23s (1st Title)
Promoted	Fulham U23s Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s
Relegated	Leeds United U23s Derby County U23s
Matches played	395 (392 RS, 3 PO)
Goals scored	1,289 (3.26 per match) (1,283 RS, 6 PO)
Top goalscorer	James McAtee Manchester City U23s, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi Crystal Palace U23s (18 goals)
Biggest home win	Nottingham Forest U23s 7–0 Reading U23s (21 February 2022) Manchester City U23s 7–0 Everton U23s (29 April 2022)
Biggest away win	Stoke City U23s 0–8 Aston Villa U23s (27 September 2021)
Highest scoring	Leeds United U23s 4–4 Blackburn Rovers U23s (24 September 2021) Stoke City U23s 0–8 Aston Villa U23s (27 September 2021) Arsenal U23s 3–5 Derby County U23s (26 November 2021) Blackburn Rovers U23s 3–5 Manchester City U23s (9 January 2022) Liverpool U23s 7–1 Tottenham Hotspur U23s (12 March 2022) Fulham U23s 5–3 Burnley U23s (1 May 2022)
Longest winning run	6 Matches Manchester City U23s
Longest unbeaten run	12 Matches Manchester City U23s
Longest winless run	13 Matches Derby County U23s
Longest losing run	6 Matches Derby County U23s
Highest attendance	21,321 Leeds United U23s 1–3 Manchester City U23s (22 April 2022) League Record
Lowest attendance	31 Crystal Palace U23s 1–1 Arsenal U23s (19 March 2022)
← 2020–21 2022–23 →

Premier League 2

Division 1

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Manchester City U23s (C)	26	16	6	4	65	32	+33	54
2	West Ham United U23s	26	15	3	8	59	39	+20	48
3	Arsenal U23s	26	10	11	5	56	48	+8	41
4	Liverpool U23s	26	11	7	8	47	37	+10	40
5	Manchester United U23s	26	11	6	9	46	43	+3	39
6	Tottenham Hotspur U23s	26	10	7	9	49	45	+4	37
7	Leicester City U23s	26	10	7	9	38	53	−15	37
8	Crystal Palace U23s	26	12	3	11	54	50	+4	39
9	Blackburn Rovers U23s	26	9	8	9	50	56	−6	35
10	Brighton & Hove Albion U23s	26	9	7	10	41	41	0	34
11	Everton U23s	26	8	5	13	33	54	−21	29
12	Chelsea U23s	26	7	7	12	39	47	−8	28
13	Leeds United U23s (R)	26	7	6	13	44	49	−5	27
14	Derby County U23s (R)	26	4	3	19	31	58	−27	15

Source: ^[2][3]
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ Away	ARS	BLA	BHA	CHE	CRY	DER	EVE	LEE	LEI	LIV	MNC	MNU	TOT	WHU
Arsenal U23s		2–2	3–0	3–1	4–2	3–5	4–0	1–1	3–3	1–4	3–3	3–1	2–1	1–1
Blackburn Rovers U23s	2–3		6–0	4–3	2–1	2–1	2–2	4–0	1–1	2–2	3–5	0–4	3–3	2–0
Brighton & Hove Albion U23s	1–1	4–1		1–2	2–1	5–1	4–2	1–0	2–1	3–0	1–1	1–2	1–1	4–2
Chelsea U23s	1–6	0–1	1–1		1–2	2–0	1–1	1–0	5–0	4–3	0–1	1–1	2–1	1–1
Crystal Palace U23s	1–1	1–2	2–0	3–2		3–1	3–1	1–3	3–2	0–2	1–2	2–2	4–3	2–4
Derby County U23s	1–1	6–0	0–2	3–1	2–3		0–2	2–3	0–0	0–1	0–5	1–1	0–1	3–1
Everton U23s	2–0	0–2	2–1	2–0	2–2	1–0		4–2	1–2	1–3	3–2	0–1	1–0	3–4
Leeds United U23s	2–4	4–4	1–1	1–3	4–0	2–0	0–0		1–3	3–0	1–3	3–0	2–4	2–2
Leicester City U23s	1–1	4–1	2–1	1–1	1–6	2–1	3–1	1–0		0–4	0–0	3–2	1–4	2–1
Liverpool U23s	3–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–3	3–1	1–1	0–4	3–0		0–0	3–1	7–1	3–0
Manchester City U23s	2–2	4–2	3–1	4–1	4–2	1–0	7–0	3–2	5–0	0–0		3–1	1–3	2–0
Manchester United U23s	1–1	3–0	2–1	1–0	1–2	5–2	3–0	3–2	2–2	3–0	2–4		1–1	3–1
Tottenham Hotspur U23s	1–2	1–1	0–0	2–2	1–4	3–1	4–0	1–1	3–1	2–1	3–0	1–0		3–4
West Ham United U23s	6–1	1–0	3–2	2–1	1–0	5–0	3–1	3–0	1–2	3–0	1–0	6–0	3–1

Source:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Division 2

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Fulham U23s (C, P)	26	20	2	4	64	27	+37	62
2	Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s (P)	26	14	5	7	46	37	+9	47
3	Stoke City U23s	26	12	7	7	34	36	−2	43
4	Nottingham Forest U23s	26	12	6	8	52	31	+21	42
5	Norwich City U23s	26	12	3	11	64	52	+12	39
6	Burnley U23s	26	11	6	9	46	39	+7	39
7	Southampton U23s	26	12	3	11	45	42	+3	39
8	Newcastle United U23s	26	12	2	12	51	56	−5	38
9	West Bromwich Albion U23s	26	10	5	11	44	54	−10	35
10	Aston Villa U23s	26	9	5	12	53	51	+2	32
11	Birmingham City U23s	26	7	5	14	34	51	−17	26
12	Middlesbrough U23s	26	8	2	16	31	50	−19	26
13	Sunderland U23s	26	7	3	16	35	49	−14	24
14	Reading U23s	26	5	8	13	32	56	−24	23

Source: ^[4]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Results

Home \ Away	AST	BIR	BUR	FUL	MID	NEW	NOR	NOT	REA	STK	SOU	SUN	WBA	WOL
Aston Villa U23s		3–3	4–1	1–1	1–2	1–2	2–0	5–2	4–1	1–4	2–2	2–3	4–2	0–0
Birmingham City U23s	1–2		1–2	1–3	4–2	0–4	2–1	0–3	0–0	1–1	3–2	1–0	3–2	1–2
Burnley U23s	2–1	1–1		1–2	2–0	5–1	4–3	1–1	3–1	0–1	2–1	2–3	3–2	1–1
Fulham U23s	2–1	3–0	5–3		2–0	3–1	1–2	2–1	3–0	3–0	3–0	2–0	3–0	4–2
Middlesbrough U23s	1–2	0–3	0–3	0–0		4–2	3–2	0–1	2–1	2–0	2–1	3–2	1–2	0–3
Newcastle United U23s	2–0	1–0	2–0	1–6	4–1		2–2	0–1	1–1	2–3	2–4	2–0	4–3	2–3
Norwich City U23s	4–2	2–1	2–1	0–2	4–0	3–4		4–2	5–2	0–1	4–3	1–1	2–5	0–2
Nottingham Forest U23s	4–1	5–0	1–1	1–2	1–1	1–3	3–2		7–0	2–0	0–0	3–0	2–2	1–0
Reading U23s	2–2	1–1	2–1	3–1	2–1	1–4	3–3	0–2		1–1	0–1	0–3	1–1	3–0
Stoke City U23s	0–8	2–1	0–0	0–1	1–0	2–1	0–4	1–0	1–2		3–0	2–2	2–1	2–0
Southampton U23s	4–0	2–3	0–2	2–1	1–0	5–0	0–3	4–2	2–1	1–1		1–0	3–1	2–4
Sunderland U23s	1–3	2–1	0–2	3–4	1–3	1–2	3–4	1–1	2–0	0–3	3–2		0–1	1–2
West Bromwich Albion U23s	2–1	3–2	3–2	2–4	3–2	2–0	3–2	0–5	1–1	1–1	0–1	1–0		0–4
Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s	3–0	2–0	1–1	2–1	2–1	4–2	0–5	1–0	4–3	2–2	0–1	1–3	1–1

Source:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Play-offs

	Semi-finals					Final
	2	Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s	1 (p)
	5	Norwich City U23s	1
						Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s		2
						Stoke City U23s		0
	3	Stoke City U23s	2
	4	Nottingham Forest U23s	0

Semifinals

Stoke City U23s	2–0	Nottingham Forest U23s
Griffiths 75' Goodwin 90+4'

15 May 2022

13:00

Bet365 Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent

Attendance: 1,846

Referee: Steven Copeland

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Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s	1–1	Norwich City U23s
Bueno 28'		Omotoye 68'
Penalties
Campbell Bueno Griffiths Perry Tipton	5–4	Springett Omotoye Mumba Rowe Clarke

17 May 2022

9:00

Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton

Attendance: 1,375

Referee: Daniel Middleton

Final

Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s	2–0	Stoke City U23s
Cundle 17', 39'	Report

23 May 2022

13:00

Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton

Attendance: 4,936

Referee: Thomas Kirk

Professional Development League

U23 Professional Development League

Season	2021–22
Champions	Coventry City U23s (1st Title)
Matches played	203 (200 RS, 3 PO)
Goals scored	682 (3.36 per match) (667 RS, 15 PO)
Top goalscorer	Fabio Tavares Coventry City U23s (17 Goals)
Biggest home win	Hull City U23s 6–0 Coventry City U23s (20 November 2021)
Biggest away win	Barnsley U23s 0–7 Charlton Athletic U23s (24 August 2021)
Highest scoring	Bristol City U23s 6–2 Hull City U23s (1 September 2021) Coventry City U23s 5–3 Wigan Athletic U23s (18 October 2021)
Longest winning run	8 Matches Ipswich Town U23s
Longest unbeaten run	11 Matches Ipswich Town U23s
Longest winless run	7 Matches Sheffield Wednesday U23s Queens Park Rangers U23s
Longest losing run	5 Matches Queens Park Rangers U23s
← 2020–21 2022–23 →

The Professional Development League season is the tenth campaign of post-EPPP Under-23 football's second tier, designed for those academies with Category 2 status. A total of 17 teams are 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 23 games for the North Division, and 24 games for the South Division. 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. Birmingham City U23s are the defending national champions.

17 Teams competed in the league this season, a record low for the competition with 1 fewer team than last season. Birmingham City U23s,^[5] the defending national champions would leave the league after 9 seasons alongside Nottingham Forest U23s^[6] to join the Premier League 2 as Category One Academies. Both founding members of the league left after 9 seasons. Peterborough United U23s joined as a Category Two Academy joining the North Division.^[7]

Tables

North Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Sheffield United U23s	23	15	3	5	47	23	+24	48	Qualification for Knock-out stage
2	Coventry City U23s	23	13	4	6	57	39	+18	43
3	Hull City U23s	23	12	4	7	44	41	+3	40
4	Wigan Athletic U23s	23	7	4	12	31	39	−8	25
5	Crewe Alexandra U23s	23	7	2	14	27	50	−23	23
6	Peterborough United U23s	23	5	7	11	36	41	−5	22
7	Barnsley U23s	23	5	7	11	22	42	−20	22
8	Sheffield Wednesday U23s	23	4	8	11	21	32	−11	20

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

South Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Ipswich Town U23s	24	16	3	5	58	27	+31	51	Qualification for Knock-out stage
2	Bristol City U23s	24	15	5	4	60	31	+29	50
3	Cardiff City U23s	24	15	2	7	44	30	+14	47
4	Charlton Athletic U23s	24	10	6	8	55	46	+9	36
5	Millwall U23s	24	9	3	12	34	45	−11	30
6	Colchester United U23s	24	8	5	11	35	44	−9	29
7	Watford U23s	24	6	7	11	28	43	−15	25
8	Swansea City U23s	24	5	9	10	34	41	−7	24
9	Queens Park Rangers U23s	24	7	3	14	34	53	−19	24

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Knock-out stage

Semi-finals

Sheffield United U23s	0–1	Bristol City U23s
	Report	Edwards 89'

9 May 2022

19:00

LNER Community Stadium, York

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Coventry City U23s	5–4 (a.e.t.)	Ipswich Town U23s
Bapaga 7' Rus 55' Ngandu 99' (pen.), pen.' Howley 115'	Report	Hughes 15', 91' Humphreys 29' Chirewa 105'

10 May 2022

20:00

CBS Arena, Coventry

Attendance: 350

Final

Bristol City U23s	2–3	Coventry City U23s
Edwards 37' Conway 60'	Report	Rus 4' Howley 8' Burroughs 75'

17 May 2022

19:00

Ashton Gate, Bristol

Attendance: 2,337

See also

• 2021–22 in English football