2016–17 Professional U23 Development League#League 1

The 2016–17 Professional U23 Development League was the fifth season of the Professional Development League system, and the first since the age limit was raised from under-21 to under-23.

League 1

{{Infobox football league season

| competition = Premier League 2

| image =

| pixels =

| season = 2016–17

| winners =Division 1
Everton U23s (1st Title)
Division 2
Swansea City U23s (1st Title)

| promoted = Swansea City U23s
West Ham United U23s

| relegated = Reading U23s
Southampton U23s

| league topscorer = Donovan Wilson Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s (13 goals)

| biggest home win = {{nowrap|Leicester City U23s 5–0 Derby County U23s}}
(18 November 2016)

| biggest away win = {{nowrap|Arsenal U23s 0–5 Everton U23s}}
(19 September 2016)

| highest scoring = {{nowrap|Reading U23s 3–6 Everton U23s}}
(17 October 2016)

| matches = 267

| matches footnote =
(264 RS, 3 PO)

| total goals = 813

| total goals footnote =
(805 RS, 8 PO)

| longest wins = 9 Matches Swansea City U23s

| longest unbeaten = 10 Matches Manchester City EDS

| longest losses = 6 Matches Middlesbrough U23s

| longest winless = 12 Matches Middlesbrough U23s

| highest attendance = 17,525 {{nowrap|Everton U23s 1–2 Liverpool U23s}}
(8 May 2017)

| lowest attendance = 52 {{nowrap|Stoke City U23s 2–4 Aston Villa U23s}}
(26 November 2016)

| prevseason = 2015–16

| nextseason = 2017–18

}}

Premier League 2 (previously the Under 21 Premier League) was the fifth season of the competition since its introduction in 2012, and the first since being changed from an under-21 league to under-23.

The league was split into two divisions, with teams allocated places in Division 1 or 2 based on their performance in the 2015–16 season.

At the end of the season, the team which finished top of Division 1 was crowned as overall champions, and the bottom two teams in Division 1 will be relegated to Division 2 for the 2017–18 season.

=Division 1=

==Table==

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=Division 1

|res_col_header=R

|team1=EVE|name_EVE=Everton U23s

|team2=MNC|name_MNC=Manchester City EDS

|team3=LIV|name_LIV=Liverpool U23s

|team4=ARS|name_ARS=Arsenal U23s

|team5=CHE|name_CHE=Chelsea U23s

|team6=MNU|name_MNU=Manchester United U23s

|team7=SUN|name_SUN=Sunderland U23s

|team8=DER|name_DER=Derby County U23s

|team9=LEI|name_LEI=Leicester City U23s

|team10=TOT|name_TOT=Tottenham Hotspur U23s

|team11=REA|name_REA=Reading U23s

|team12=SOT|name_SOT=Southampton U23s

|col_R=#FFCCCC|text_R=Relegation to Division 2

|result11=R|result12=R

|update=15 May 2017|source={{cite web|title=PREMIER LEAGUE 2 (DIVISION 1)|url=https://int.soccerway.com/national/england/u21-premier-league/20162017/regular-season/r35819/|website=Soccerway|access-date=3 November 2016}}

}}

==Results==

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team11=SUN|team12=TOT

|name_ARS=Arsenal U23s

|match_ARS_CHE=4–1

|match_ARS_DER=2–1

|match_ARS_EVE=0–5

|match_ARS_LEI=3–0

|match_ARS_LIV=1–3

|match_ARS_MNC=3–3

|match_ARS_MNU=2–2

|match_ARS_REA=0–2

|match_ARS_SOT=0–0

|match_ARS_SUN=4–0

|match_ARS_TOT=2–0

|name_CHE=Chelsea U23s

|match_CHE_ARS=1–2

|match_CHE_DER=2–2

|match_CHE_EVE=2–2

|match_CHE_LEI=0–0

|match_CHE_LIV=4–1

|match_CHE_MNC=3–4

|match_CHE_MNU=3–1

|match_CHE_REA=2–0

|match_CHE_SOT=3–2

|match_CHE_SUN=3–0

|match_CHE_TOT=3–1

|name_DER=Derby County U23s

|match_DER_ARS=1–3

|match_DER_CHE=2–1

|match_DER_EVE=2–3

|match_DER_LEI=0–0

|match_DER_LIV=0–0

|match_DER_MNC=2–3

|match_DER_MNU=5–3

|match_DER_REA=2–1

|match_DER_SOT=2–0

|match_DER_SUN=0–0

|match_DER_TOT=1–2

|name_EVE=Everton U23s

|match_EVE_ARS=1–0

|match_EVE_CHE=1–1

|match_EVE_DER=2–0

|match_EVE_LEI=4–1

|match_EVE_LIV=1–2

|match_EVE_MNC=1–0

|match_EVE_MNU=2–0

|match_EVE_REA=3–0

|match_EVE_SOT=2–0

|match_EVE_SUN=0–1

|match_EVE_TOT=4–1

|name_LEI=Leicester City U23s

|match_LEI_ARS=2–1

|match_LEI_CHE=0–4

|match_LEI_DER=5–0

|match_LEI_EVE=1–4

|match_LEI_LIV=1–3

|match_LEI_MNC=3–3

|match_LEI_MNU=0–0

|match_LEI_REA=3–2

|match_LEI_SOT=0–2

|match_LEI_SUN=2–3

|match_LEI_TOT=2–0

|name_LIV=Liverpool U23s

|match_LIV_ARS=3–2

|match_LIV_CHE=2–0

|match_LIV_DER=1–2

|match_LIV_EVE=2–0

|match_LIV_LEI=4–0

|match_LIV_MNC=3–2

|match_LIV_MNU=0–1

|match_LIV_REA=2–0

|match_LIV_SOT=1–4

|match_LIV_SUN=3–0

|match_LIV_TOT=3–2

|name_MNC=Manchester City EDS

|match_MNC_ARS=1–0

|match_MNC_CHE=2–2

|match_MNC_DER=4–1

|match_MNC_EVE=3–0

|match_MNC_LEI=1–1

|match_MNC_LIV=1–0

|match_MNC_MNU=1–1

|match_MNC_REA=2–1

|match_MNC_SOT=4–2

|match_MNC_SUN=4–1

|match_MNC_TOT=2–2

|name_MNU=Manchester United U23s

|match_MNU_ARS=1–0

|match_MNU_CHE=1–1

|match_MNU_DER=3–2

|match_MNU_EVE=1–3

|match_MNU_LEI=1–0

|match_MNU_LIV=1–1

|match_MNU_MNC=1–3

|match_MNU_REA=0–2

|match_MNU_SOT=3–3

|match_MNU_SUN=0–2

|match_MNU_TOT=3–2

|name_REA=Reading U23s

|match_REA_ARS=2–5

|match_REA_CHE=2–1

|match_REA_DER=3–3

|match_REA_EVE=3–6

|match_REA_LEI=2–2

|match_REA_LIV=1–5

|match_REA_MNC=3–2

|match_REA_MNU=2–2

|match_REA_SOT=4–2

|match_REA_SUN=3–2

|match_REA_TOT=1–4

|name_SOT=Southampton U23s

|match_SOT_ARS=1–3

|match_SOT_CHE=0–0

|match_SOT_DER=0–1

|match_SOT_EVE=1–1

|match_SOT_LEI=2–2

|match_SOT_LIV=2–2

|match_SOT_MNC=0–3

|match_SOT_MNU=2–0

|match_SOT_REA=3–1

|match_SOT_SUN=0–2

|match_SOT_TOT=1–0

|name_SUN=Sunderland U23s

|match_SUN_ARS=2–1

|match_SUN_CHE=1–1

|match_SUN_DER=2–2

|match_SUN_EVE=0–1

|match_SUN_LEI=2–2

|match_SUN_LIV=0–0

|match_SUN_MNC=2–4

|match_SUN_MNU=1–3

|match_SUN_REA=1–1

|match_SUN_SOT=3–0

|match_SUN_TOT=2–2

|name_TOT=Tottenham Hotspur U23s

|match_TOT_ARS=0–2

|match_TOT_CHE=2–2

|match_TOT_DER=2–0

|match_TOT_EVE=0–2

|match_TOT_LEI=1–4

|match_TOT_LIV=2–6

|match_TOT_MNC=1–2

|match_TOT_MNU=1–1

|match_TOT_REA=4–0

|match_TOT_SOT=3–1

|match_TOT_SUN=1–0

|update=complete

|source=[https://www.premierleague.com/results Premier League 2 Division 1 results]

}}

=Division 2=

==Table==

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|res_col_header=PQ

|team1=SWA|name_SWA=Swansea City U23s

|team2=WOL|name_WOL=Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s

|team3=NEW|name_NEW=Newcastle United U23s

|team4=FUL|name_FUL=Fulham U23s

|team5=WHU|name_WHU=West Ham United U23s

|team6=BLB|name_BLB=Blackburn Rovers U23s

|team7=AST|name_AST=Aston Villa U23s

|team8=B&H|name_B&H=Brighton & Hove Albion U23s

|team9=WBA|name_WBA=West Bromwich Albion U23s

|team10=MID|name_MID=Middlesbrough U23s

|team11=STO|name_STO=Stoke City U23s

|team12=NOR|name_NOR=Norwich City U23s

|col_P=#ACE1AF|text_P=Promotion to Division 1

|result1=P

|col_PP=#D0F0C0|text_PP=Qualification for Play-offs

|result2=PP|result3=PP|result4=PP|result5=PP

|update=24 April 2017|source={{cite web|title=PREMIER LEAGUE 2 (DIVISION 2)|url=https://int.soccerway.com/national/england/u21-premier-league-division-2/20162017/regular-season/r35861/|website=Soccerway|access-date=13 August 2016}}

}}

==Results==

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team11=WHU|team12=WOL

|name_AST=Aston Villa U23s

|match_AST_BLB=4–0

|match_AST_B&H=2–0

|match_AST_FUL=3–3

|match_AST_MID=0–0

|match_AST_NEW=4–0

|match_AST_NOR=1–2

|match_AST_STO=0–2

|match_AST_SWA=1–2

|match_AST_WBA=2–5

|match_AST_WHU=2–0

|match_AST_WOL=0–1

|name_BLB=Blackburn Rovers U23s

|match_BLB_AST=0–0

|match_BLB_B&H=2–0

|match_BLB_FUL=3–2

|match_BLB_MID=0–0

|match_BLB_NEW=0–2

|match_BLB_NOR=2–0

|match_BLB_STO=1–1

|match_BLB_SWA=0–1

|match_BLB_WBA=2–1

|match_BLB_WHU=2–1

|match_BLB_WOL=3–2

|name_B&H=Brighton & Hove Albion U23s

|match_B&H_AST=1–1

|match_B&H_BLB=0–0

|match_B&H_FUL=1–0

|match_B&H_MID=4–2

|match_B&H_NEW=1–2

|match_B&H_NOR=1–1

|match_B&H_STO=2–0

|match_B&H_SWA=1–0

|match_B&H_WBA=2–1

|match_B&H_WHU=3–0

|match_B&H_WOL=2–1

|name_FUL=Fulham U23s

|match_FUL_AST=3–0

|match_FUL_BLB=1–0

|match_FUL_B&H=4–0

|match_FUL_MID=1–0

|match_FUL_NEW=2–1

|match_FUL_NOR=0–1

|match_FUL_STO=2–0

|match_FUL_SWA=2–1

|match_FUL_WBA=1–1

|match_FUL_WHU=4–1

|match_FUL_WOL=1–4

|name_MID=Middlesbrough U23s

|match_MID_AST=1–2

|match_MID_BLB=4–1

|match_MID_B&H=0–0

|match_MID_FUL=1–4

|match_MID_NEW=0–2

|match_MID_NOR=2–2

|match_MID_STO=2–2

|match_MID_SWA=2–1

|match_MID_WBA=2–1

|match_MID_WHU=0–1

|match_MID_WOL=0–1

|name_NEW=Newcastle United U23s

|match_NEW_AST=4–2

|match_NEW_BLB=1–2

|match_NEW_B&H=1–0

|match_NEW_FUL=3–1

|match_NEW_MID=2–0

|match_NEW_NOR=1–2

|match_NEW_STO=1–1

|match_NEW_SWA=3–2

|match_NEW_WBA=1–1

|match_NEW_WHU=0–0

|match_NEW_WOL=0–0

|name_NOR=Norwich City U23s

|match_NOR_AST=0–1

|match_NOR_BLB=1–3

|match_NOR_B&H=0–0

|match_NOR_FUL=2–2

|match_NOR_MID=1–2

|match_NOR_NEW=0–3

|match_NOR_STO=0–1

|match_NOR_SWA=0–2

|match_NOR_WBA=2–1

|match_NOR_WHU=0–2

|match_NOR_WOL=0–1

|name_STO=Stoke City U23s

|match_STO_AST=2–4

|match_STO_BLB=0–1

|match_STO_B&H=1–1

|match_STO_FUL=1–2

|match_STO_MID=3–1

|match_STO_NEW=2–3

|match_STO_NOR=1–1

|match_STO_SWA=1–4

|match_STO_WBA=2–1

|match_STO_WHU=0–3

|match_STO_WOL=1–1

|name_SWA=Swansea City U23s

|match_SWA_AST=2–0

|match_SWA_BLB=2–1

|match_SWA_B&H=1–0

|match_SWA_FUL=2–0

|match_SWA_MID=3–2

|match_SWA_NEW=3–1

|match_SWA_NOR=2–0

|match_SWA_STO=2–1

|match_SWA_WBA=1–0

|match_SWA_WHU=2–0

|match_SWA_WOL=2–2

|name_WBA=West Bromwich Albion U23s

|match_WBA_AST=3–3

|match_WBA_BLB=1–0

|match_WBA_B&H=1–0

|match_WBA_FUL=2–1

|match_WBA_MID=0–0

|match_WBA_NEW=0–1

|match_WBA_NOR=2–1

|match_WBA_STO=2–1

|match_WBA_SWA=0–1

|match_WBA_WHU=0–4

|match_WBA_WOL=0–1

|name_WHU=West Ham United U23s

|match_WHU_AST=0–0

|match_WHU_BLB=1–1

|match_WHU_B&H=0–0

|match_WHU_FUL=2–0

|match_WHU_MID=1–3

|match_WHU_NEW=3–1

|match_WHU_NOR=2–1

|match_WHU_STO=1–1

|match_WHU_SWA=2–3

|match_WHU_WBA=2–1

|match_WHU_WOL=2–2

|name_WOL=Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s

|match_WOL_AST=1–2

|match_WOL_BLB=3–0

|match_WOL_B&H=2–1

|match_WOL_FUL=4–3

|match_WOL_MID=2–1

|match_WOL_NEW=4–1

|match_WOL_NOR=3–1

|match_WOL_STO=1–1

|match_WOL_SWA=3–4

|match_WOL_WBA=3–1

|match_WOL_WHU=0–4

|update=complete

|source=[https://www.premierleague.com/results Premier League 2 Division 2 results]

}}

=Play-offs=

{{4TeamBracket | RD1=Semifinals

| RD2=Final

| RD1-seed1= 2

| RD1-team1= Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s

| RD1-score1= 1

| RD1-seed2= 5

| RD1-team2= West Ham United U23s

| RD1-score2= 2

| RD1-seed3= 3

| RD1-team3= Newcastle United U23s

| RD1-score3= 2

| RD1-seed4= 4

| RD1-team4= Fulham U23s

| RD1-score4= 0

| RD2-seed1= 3

| RD2-team1= Newcastle United U23s

| RD2-score1= 1

| RD2-seed2= 5

| RD2-team2= West Ham United U23s

| RD2-score2= 2

}}

==Semifinals==

{{football box

| date = 8 May 2017

| time = 13:00

| team1 = Newcastle United U23s

| score = 2–0

| aet =

| attendance = 437

| report = https://www.premierleague.com/match/21969/premier-league-2/2016-17/newcastle-v-fulham

| team2 = Fulham U23s

| goals1 =

Holmes {{goal|6}}
Findlay {{goal|35}}

| goals2 =

| stadium =St. James' Park, Newcastle

| referee= Thomas Bramall

}}

----

{{football box

| date = 8 May 2017

| time = 13:00

| team1 = Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s

| score = 1–2

| attendance = 772

| report = https://www.premierleague.com/match/21968/premier-league-2/2016-17/wolves-v-west-ham

| team2 = West Ham United U23s

| goals1 =

Deslandes {{goal|25}}

| goals2 =

Hector-Ingram {{goal|80}}
Samuelsen {{goal|90+1}}

| stadium = Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton

| referee= Joseph Johnson

}}

==Final==

{{football box

| date = 16 May 2017

| time = 13:00

| team1 = Newcastle United U23s

| score = 1–2

| aet =

| attendance = 1,824

| report = https://www.premierleague.com/match/22191/premier-league-2/2016-17/newcastle-v-west-ham

| team2 = West Ham United U23s

| goals1 =

Heardman {{goal|19}}

| goals2 =

Martínez {{goal|43||54}}

| stadium =St. James' Park, Newcastle

| referee= Tom Nield

}}

League 2

{{Infobox football league season

| competition = U23 Professional Development League

| image =

| pixels =

| season = 2016–17

| winners = Sheffield Wednesday U23s (1st Title)

| league topscorer = George Hirst Sheffield Wednesday U23s (16 Goals)

| biggest home win = {{nowrap|Ipswich Town U23s 8–0 Watford U23s}}
(6 February 2017)

| biggest away win = {{nowrap|Colchester United U23s 1–7 Queens Park Rangers U23s}}
(17 April 2017)

| highest scoring = {{nowrap|Charlton Athletic U23s 7–2 Coventry City U23s}}
(5 September 2016)
{{nowrap|Sheffield United U23s 6–3 Nottingham Forest U23s}}
(19 December 2016)

| matches = 283

| matches footnote =
(280 RS, 3 PO)

| total goals = 933

| total goals footnote =
(920 RS, 13 PO)

| longest wins = 6 Matches Sheffield Wednesday U23s

| longest unbeaten = 12 Matches Charlton Athletic U23s

| longest losses = 5 Matches Crystal Palace U23s
Leeds United U23s
Millwall U23s

| longest winless = 14 Matches Leeds United U23s

| highest attendance = 2,745 Sheffield Wednesday U23s 3–1 Hull City U23s
(12 May 2017)

| lowest attendance =

| prevseason = 2015–16

| nextseason = 2017–18

}}

The Professional U23 Development League 2, also known as U23 PDL-2 is split into two regional divisions.

Teams will play each team in their own division twice, and each team in the other division once, for a total of 28 games each.

At the end of the season, the teams finishing in the top two positions of both divisions will meet in the knockout stage to determine the overall league champion.

20 Teams competed this season, 1 fewer than last time.

Brentford withdrawing at the end of last season after they closed their academy meant Coventry City moved to the south division for an even distribution of 10 teams per division.