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2025–26 Professional U18 Development League
Football league season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 2025–26 Professional U18 Development League is the 14th season of the Professional Development League system. There are 29 teams competing, divided into North and South divisions according to their region. Three teams joined with Category One status with Birmingham City U18s,[1] Burnley U18s[2] returning after a three season abscence and six total seasons and founding member Ipswich Town U18s[3] playing in the U18 Premier League for the very first time after 13 seasons. Burnley play in the North Division, while Birmingham City and Ipswich Town play in the South Division.
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North
Updated to match(es) played on 27 September 2025. Source: League Under 18 Table
Matches
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South
Updated to match(es) played on 27 September 2025. Source: Premier League Under 18 Table
Matches
National Final
Season statistics
Top goalscorers
Hat-tricks
- As of 20 September 2025
- Note
(H) – Home; (A) – Away
4 – player scored 4 goals
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Professional Development League
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The Professional Development League, sometimes known as the Professional Development League 2, is Under-18 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 28 games played. 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. Bristol City U18s are the defending champions.
20 teams competed in the league this season, two fewer than the previous season. Three teams joined with Category One status with Birmingham City U18s,[1] Burnley U18s[2] returning after a three season abscence and six total seasons and founding member Ipswich Town U18s[3] playing in the Premier League 2 for the very first time after 13 seasons. However, Huddersfield Town U18s[11] returned after being granted category 2 academy status after 7 years.
Tables
North Division
Updated to match(es) played on 27 September 2025. Source: Professional Development League table
South Division
Updated to match(es) played on 27 September 2025. Source: Professional Development League table
Matches
Knock-out stage
Semi-finals
Professional Development League National Final
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EFL Youth Alliance
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League 2 is run by the Football League under the auspices of the Football League Youth Alliance. This is for academies that are Category Three and Four in the EPPP. The competition consists of the Under-18 sides from the Category Three and Category Four Academy Clubs of the EFL and Premier League, along with selected National League Clubs. 41 Academies competed this season, 3 fewer than the previous season. For clubs that get relegated to the National League, they have two years to gain promotion back to the EFL. Otherwise, they lose their license with the League. Hartlepool United U18s and Rochdale U18s did not return after their parent club lost their EPPP license and would not participate this season. For clubs that get relegated to the National League, they have two years to gain promotion back to the EFL. Otherwise, they lose their license with the League. Accrington Stanley U18s[12] closed their academy dues to costs and won't be participating as well, and Morecambe U18s closed their academy due to being suspended by the National League temporarily, Harrogate Town U18s moved to the National League U19s, and Huddersfield Town U18s academy was upgraded to Category 2 status[11]. Barnet and Oldham Athletic joined after their first team was promoted. In the Academy category front Wrexham U18s was promoted from Category Four to Category Three. Wycombe Wanderers joins the Youth Alliance as a Category four academy for the first time since 2011/2012.[13] The format is the same as the previous season.
League stage
North
Updated to match(es) played on September 27, 2025. Source: soccerway.com
South
Updated to match(es) played on October 4, 2025. Source: soccerway.com
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References
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