2025–26 Professional U21 Development League

Premier League 2
Season2025–26
Dates15 August 2025 – 13 April 2026
Matches251
Goals913 (3.64 per match)
Top goalscorer Shumaira Mheuka (Chelsea U21s)
(16 Goals)
Biggest home winManchester City U21s 8–1 Burnley U21s
(9 January 2026)
Liverpool U21s 7–0 Arsenal U21s
(18 January 2026)
Biggest away winNewcastle United U21s 0–5 Chelsea U21s
(22 August 2025)
Stoke City U21s 1–6 Manchester City U21s
(30 January 2026)
Nottingham Forest U21s 1-6 Sunderland U21s
(11 February 2026)
Highest scoringLeicester City U21s 3–6 Tottenham Hotspur U21s
(19 September 2025)
Manchester City U21s 8–1 Burnley U21s
(9 January 2026)
Aston Villa U21s 5–4 Ipswich Town U21s (24 January 2026)
Longest winning runManchester United U21s
(7 Games)
(18 August 2025 – 25 October 2025)
Longest unbeaten runFulham U21s
(15 August 2025 – 6 February 2026)
(13 Games)
Longest winless runReading U21s
(15 August 2025 – 10 January 2026)
Burnley U21s
(31 October 2025 – 27 February 2026)
(9 Games)
Longest losing runStoke City U21s (23 January 2026 – Present)
7 Games
2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 16 March 2026.

The 2025–26 Premier League 2 is the 14th season of the Professional Development League system. It continues to use the same format as the previous 2 seasons with a change from places 17 to 24. The sides finishing in the top eight positions of the Professional U21 Development League 2 at the end of the season will progress to a playoff stage against teams 17-24. 29 Category One Academies are competing this season, the most in league history. Three teams joined with Category One status with Birmingham City U21s, Burnley U21s returning after a three season absence and Ipswich Town U21s playing in the Premier League 2 for the very first time.