The Under-18 Professional Development League brings together 21 Category Two Academies in two regional divisions before a national play-off for the honour of being overall champions.
The competition is one academy tier below the Under-18 Premier League, where the 26 Category One academy clubs play, and is split into the North and South Division, with no promotion or relegation.
As with the U18 Premier League, only players in the Under-18 category are allowed to play, with the exception of the goalkeeper, who can be in the Under-19 category.
Competition Format - Group Stages
The 21-team League is split into two regional groups, North and South. Each club plays every team in their regional group twice, once home and once away, and the two top sides from each division go into a play-off for the overall title.
Additional matches against each Club within the other region will be staged on either a home or away basis.
The North group (consisting of 11 Clubs) play each other home and away totalling 20 matches. They then play each team from the South group (10 Clubs) once resulting in a total of 30 league matches across the season.
The South group (consisting of 10 Clubs) play each other home and away totalling 18 matches They then play each team from the North group (11 Clubs) once resulting in a total of 29 league games across the season.
The winner of each regional group will be crowned the U18 Professional Development League winners.
Knockout Stages / End of Season Play-Offs
At the end of the league season, the winner of each regional league will play the runner up of the other league in the U18 Professional Development League play-off semi-finals as outlined below:
- Winner of the North v Runners Up of the South
- Winner of the South v Runners Up of the North
The winners of each play-off semi-final will then compete in the U18PDL National final, the winner of which will be crowned the U18 Professional Development League National Champions.
Roll of Honour
2023/24
U18 Professional Development League National Champions: Birmingham City
U18 Professional Development League North Division Champions: Birmingham City
U18 Professional Development League South Division Champions: Charlton Athletic
2022/23
U18 Professional Development League National Champions: Barnsley
U18 Professional Development League North Division Champions: Barnsley
U18 Professional Development League South Division Champions: Charlton Athletic
2021/22
U18 Professional Development League National Champions: Sheffield United
U18 Professional Development League North Division Champions: Sheffield United
U18 Professional Development League South Division Champions: Charlton Athletic
2020/21
U18 Professional Development League National Champions: Wigan Athletic
U18 Professional Development League North Division Champions: Wigan Athletic
U18 Professional Development League South Division Champions: Charlton Athletic
2019/20
U18 Professional Development League National Champions: N/A
U18 Professional Development League North Division Champions: N/A
U18 Professional Development League South Division Champions: N/A
*Competitions did not finish due to curtailment of season
2018/19
U18 Professional Development League National Champions: Sheffield Wednesday
U18 Professional Development League North Division Champions: Sheffield Wednesday
U18 Professional Development League South Division Champions: Cardiff City
2017/18
U18 Professional Development League National Champions: Charlton Athletic
U18 Professional Development League North Division Champions: Leeds United
U18 Professional Development League South Division Champions: Crystal Palace
2016/17
U18 Professional Development League National Champions: Sheffield United
U18 Professional Development League North Division Champions: Sheffield United
U18 Professional Development League South Division Champions: Coventry City
2015/16
U18 Professional Development League National Champions: Charlton Athletic
U18 Professional Development League North Division Champions: Nottingham Forest
U18 Professional Development League South Division Champions: Watford
