The 2025–26 Professional U18 Development League was the 14th season of the Professional Development League system.
29 teams competed, divided into the North and South divisions based on region. Birmingham City and Burnley returned to the U18 Premier League after a three-season absence, while founding member Ipswich Town returned to the top flight for the first time in 13 years. Burnley played in the North Division, while Birmingham City and Ipswich Town played in the South Division.
North
Matches
South
Matches
National Final
Season statistics
Top goalscorers Rank Player Club Goals1 Teddie LambManchester City252 JJ GabrielManchester United233 Markie Meade Aston Villa194 Josh Sonni-LambieLiverpool165 Chizaram EzenwataChelsea15 Harry FrenchWest Bromwich Albion Lorenz HutchinsonLeicester City Christian Dunbar-McDonaldManchester City Armend MuslikaTottenham Hotspur10 David AngibeaudCrystal Palace14 Oliver BoastTottenham Hotspur Andre DikeWest Ham United
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Benjamin Casey Crystal Palace Tottenham Hotspur 2–3 (A) JJ Gabriel Manchester United Derby County 0–4 (A) Harry Gathercole Southampton West Bromwich Albion 6–3 (H) Lorenz Hutchinson Leicester City Aston Villa 0–4 (A) Benjamin Casey Crystal Palace Ipswich Town 8–0 (H) Freddie Leatherbarrow Blackburn RoversLiverpool 3–8 (A) Rio Parmar 4 West Bromwich AlbionBirmingham City 2–8 (A) Isaac Thomas 4 West Ham United Ipswich Town 2–8 (A) Teddie Lamb Manchester City Burnley 5–0 (H) Marley Mintus Derby County Stoke City 4–5 (A) Kallum Fuller-Thompson 4 Reading West Bromwich Albion 0–5 (A) Riko Robinson Nottingham Forest Liverpool 3–6 (A) JJ Gabriel Manchester United Liverpool 0–7 (A) Reiss Elliott-Parris Tottenham Hotspur Fulham 0–5 (A) Jephthah Medine West Ham United Norwich City 4–2 (H) Ibrahim Rabbaj Chelsea Leicester City 1–5 (A) Josh Sonni-Lambie LiverpoolBurnley 7–1 (H) Harvey Higgins Blackburn RoversMiddlesbrough 6–2 (H) Joshua Abe LiverpoolLeeds United 6–1 (H) Teddie Lamb Manchester City Wolverhampton Wanderers 7–0 (H) Levi Ball Blackburn RoversSunderland 5–5 (A) Oliver Boast Tottenham HotspurBirmingham City 1–4 (A) Mylo Bernard Crystal PalaceReading 2–4 (A) Israel Green Derby CountyEverton 1–4 (A) Reggie Walsh ChelseaFulham 1–5 (A) Tyler Smith MiddlesbroughBlackburn Rovers 9–0 (H) Kylan Midwood Manchester CityDerby County 5–3 (H) Marcus Neill SunderlandEverton 4–0 (H) Warren Taylor Burnley Leeds United 7–4 (H) Ceiran Loney EvertonManchester City 5–3 (H) Markie Meade Aston Villa Ipswich Town 2–6 (A) Armend Muslika4 Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Albion 5–2 (H) Note (H) – Home; (A) – Away 4 – player scored 4 goals
Professional Development League
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 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, Burnley returning after a three-season absence and six total seasons and founding member Ipswich Town playing in the Premier League 2 for the very first time after 13 seasons. However, Huddersfield Town returned after being granted category 2 academy status after 7 years.
Tables North Division
South Division
Matches
Knock-out stage Semi-finals
Professional Development League National Final
Top goalscorers
Rank Player Club Goals1 Dan GelhardtWigan Athletic203 Kymani Smith-DaleyWatford18 Jack SykesCardiff City4 Leyland WaiteAFC Bournemouth175 Siem Eyob-AbrahaSheffield United146 Benji McWilliams-MarcanoPeterborough United13 Raynon RichmanCharlton Athletic Bolu ShofowokePeterborough United9 Mannie BartonCardiff City12 Harvey GraySwansea City Zac JagielkaHull City Ellis McMillanCharlton Athletic
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Zac Jagielka4 Hull City Queens Park Rangers 6–0 (H) Bolu Shofowoke Peterborough United Coventry City 4–1 (H) Charlie Liddell Sheffield Wednesday Wigan Athletic 4–1 (H) Josh Ocaya Hull City Sheffield Wednesday 6–1 (H) Will Wright4 MillwallWatford 4–4 (H) Jacob Hanson Brentford Bristol City 8–0 (H) Joshua Wright Queens Park Rangers Colchester United 4–1 (H) Riley McLachlan4 Sheffield UnitedPeterborough United 3–5 (A) Jack Sykes Cardiff CityBrentford 0–3 (A) Jai Nwosu4 BrentfordHuddersfield Town 7–5 (H) Leyland Waite4 AFC BournemouthSwansea City 5–1 (H) Dane Ndimukum AFC BournemouthPeterborough United 4–7 (A) Note (H) – Home; (A) – Away 4 – player scored 4 goals
EFL Youth Alliance
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. 42 Academies competed this season, 2 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 and Rochdale 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 closed their academy dues to costs and won't be participating as well, and Morecambe temporarily closed their academy due to being suspended by the National League temporarily, Harrogate Town moved to the National League U19s, and Huddersfield Town academy was upgraded to Category 2 status. Barnet and Oldham Athletic joined after their first team was promoted. In the Academy category front Wrexham 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. The format returned to the Division format and the winners of the divisions would play in a 4 team playoff to determine the national champion.
League stage North West Division
North East Division
South West Division
South East Division
Play-off Stage Semifinals
EFL Youth Alliance National Final
References