2020–21 Professional U23 Development League#Premier League 2
The 2020–21 Professional U23 Development League was the ninth season of the Professional Development League system.
Burnley U23s,{{cite web |url=https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/clarets-academy-granted-category-1-status-by-the-premier-league-2905409|title= Clarets Academy granted Category 1 status by the Premier League|website= Burnley Express|date= 6 July 2020|access-date=1 October 2024}} Crystal Palace U23s{{cite web |url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/academy/category-1-academy-status-approved/|title= Category 1 Academy status approved|website= Crystal Palace FC|date= 9 July 2020|access-date=1 October 2024}} and Leeds United U23s{{cite web |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/en/news/leeds-united-academy-awarded-category-one-status|title= LEEDS UNITED ACADEMY AWARDED CATEGORY ONE STATUS|website=Leeds United|date= 8 July 2020 |access-date=1 October 2024}} joined the Premier League 2 for the 2020–21 season after gaining category one status academies. Prior to the start of the season Swansea City left the league after downgrading their academy to category two.{{cite web |title=Swansea City's academy blow and what the future holds as pathway that brought through glut of stars is downgraded |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/swansea-citys-academy-blow-what-18864092 |website=Wales Online |date=2 September 2020 |access-date=7 September 2020}}
Premier League 2
{{Infobox football league season
| competition = Premier League 2
| image =
| pixels =
| season = 2020–21
| winners = Division 1
Manchester City U23s
Division 2
Leeds United U23s
| promoted = Leeds United U23s
Crystal Palace U23s
| relegated = Southampton U23s
| league topscorer = Liam Delap Manchester City U23s (24 goals)
| biggest home win = Crystal Palace U23s 6–0 Reading U23s
(9 November 2020)
Leeds United U23s 7–1 Fulham U23s
(21 December 2020)
Manchester City U23s 7–1 Southampton U23s
(15 March 2021)
Leicester City U23s 7–1 Southampton U23s
(19 April 2021)
| biggest away win = Sunderland U23s 0–6 Middlesbrough U23s
(19 October 2020)
Blackburn Rovers U23s 0–6 Manchester United U23s
(6 November 2020)
| highest scoring = Manchester United U23s 6–4 Blackburn Rovers U23s
(5 February 2021)
| matches = 341
| matches footnote =
(338 RS, 3 PO)
| total goals = 1134
| total goals footnote =
(1,127 RS, 7 PO)
| longest wins = 9 Matches Leeds United U23s
| longest unbeaten = 18 Matches Manchester City U23s
| longest winless = 10 Matches Southampton U23s
| longest losses = 8 Matches Southampton U23s
| highest attendance = 3,000 {{nowrap|Crystal Palace U23s 0–0 Sunderland U23s}}
(24 May 2021) Play Off Final
| lowest attendance = 0 Most matches were behind closed doors due to covid
| prevseason = 2019–20
| nextseason = 2021–22
}}
=Division 1=
==Table==
{{updated|match played 10 May 2021}}{{cite web |title=PREMIER LEAGUE 2 DIVISION ONE |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/premier-league-2-division-one/20202021/regular-season/r58223/|website=Soccerway |access-date=11 September 2020}}
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!width="30"|Pos!!width="220"|Club!!width="30"|P!!width="30"|W!!width="30"|D!!width="30"|L!!width="30"|F!!width="30"|A!!width="30"|GD!!width="30"|Pts | |||||||||
bgcolor="#FFFF00"
|1 | align="left"|Manchester City U23s (C) | 24 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 79 | 30 | +49 | 56 |
2 | align="left"|Chelsea U23s | 24 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 50 | 36 | +14 | 42 |
3 | align="left"|Tottenham Hotspur U23s | 24 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 45 | 44 | +1 | 38 |
4 | align="left"|Blackburn Rovers U23s | 24 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 48 | 41 | +7 | 37 |
5 | align="left"|Everton U23s | 24 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 44 | 28 | +16 | 36 |
6 | align="left"|Derby County U23s | 24 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 43 | 49 | –6 | 36 |
7 | align="left"|Liverpool U23s | 24 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 48 | 50 | –2 | 35 |
8 | align="left"|Manchester United U23s | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 58 | 59 | –1 | 34 |
9 | align="left"|Brighton & Hove Albion U23s | 24 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 36 | 42 | –6 | 30 |
10 | align="left"|Arsenal U23s | 24 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 37 | 43 | –6 | 26 |
11 | align="left"|West Ham United U23s | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 32 | 48 | –16 | 24 |
12 | align="left"|Leicester City U23s | 24 | 6 | 4 | 14 | 41 | 55 | –14 | 22 |
bgcolor="#FFCCCC"
|13 | align="left"|Southampton U23s (R) | 24 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 29 | 65 | –36 | 16 |
==Results==
{{#invoke:sports results|main
| update = 3 May 2021
|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey
|source=[https://www.premierleague.com/results Premier League 2 Division 1 results]
|team1=ARS|team2=BLA|team3=B&H|team4=CHE|team5=DER|team6=EVE|team7=LEI|team8=LIV|team9=MNC|team10=MNU|team11=SOU|team12=TOT|team13=WHU
|name_ARS=Arsenal U23s
|match_ARS_BLA=0–3
|match_ARS_B&H=5–0
|match_ARS_CHE=2–2
|match_ARS_DER=3–1
|match_ARS_EVE=1–0
|match_ARS_LEI=2–1
|match_ARS_LIV=0–1
|match_ARS_MNC=0–2
|match_ARS_MNU=3–3
|match_ARS_SOU=1–2
|match_ARS_TOT=0–1
|match_ARS_WHU=1–2
|name_BLA=Blackburn Rovers U23s
|match_BLA_ARS=0–6
|match_BLA_B&H=1–1
|match_BLA_CHE=2–4
|match_BLA_DER=0–2
|match_BLA_EVE=1–1
|match_BLA_LEI=4–0
|match_BLA_LIV=2–2
|match_BLA_MNC=2–1
|match_BLA_MNU=2–2
|match_BLA_SOU=5–1
|match_BLA_TOT=2–3
|match_BLA_WHU=4–1
|name_B&H=Brighton & Hove Albion U23s
|match_B&H_ARS=2–2
|match_B&H_BLA=1–2
|match_B&H_CHE=2–0
|match_B&H_DER=3–1
|match_B&H_EVE=2–2
|match_B&H_LEI=0–4
|match_B&H_LIV=1–0
|match_B&H_MNC=1–3
|match_B&H_MNU=2–5
|match_B&H_SOU=3–0
|match_B&H_TOT=1–5
|match_B&H_WHU=6–1
|name_CHE=Chelsea U23s
|match_CHE_ARS=3–0
|match_CHE_BLA=1–0
|match_CHE_B&H=0–0
|match_CHE_DER=3–2
|match_CHE_EVE=2–1
|match_CHE_LEI=2–1
|match_CHE_LIV=2–3
|match_CHE_MNC=2–2
|match_CHE_MNU=6–1
|match_CHE_SOU=3–1
|match_CHE_TOT=3–2
|match_CHE_WHU=1–0
|name_DER=Derby County U23s
|match_DER_ARS=2–3
|match_DER_BLA=3–5
|match_DER_B&H=1–1
|match_DER_CHE=2–1
|match_DER_EVE=1–3
|match_DER_LEI=2–1
|match_DER_LIV=2–1
|match_DER_MNC=0–4
|match_DER_MNU=2–6
|match_DER_SOU=3–1
|match_DER_TOT=1–0
|match_DER_WHU=3–2
|name_EVE=Everton U23s
|match_EVE_ARS=1–1
|match_EVE_BLA=2–1
|match_EVE_B&H=1–1
|match_EVE_CHE=2–0
|match_EVE_DER=4–1
|match_EVE_LEI=3–0
|match_EVE_LIV=1–1
|match_EVE_MNC=1–2
|match_EVE_MNU=3–1
|match_EVE_SOU=4–0
|match_EVE_TOT=0–0
|match_EVE_WHU=2–1
|name_LEI=Leicester City U23s
|match_LEI_ARS=1–1
|match_LEI_BLA=1–3
|match_LEI_B&H=1–1
|match_LEI_CHE=1–1
|match_LEI_DER=1–2
|match_LEI_EVE=2–4
|match_LEI_LIV=0–2
|match_LEI_MNC=1–6
|match_LEI_MNU=4–2
|match_LEI_SOU=7–1
|match_LEI_TOT=1–3
|match_LEI_WHU=2–1
|name_LIV=Liverpool U23s
|match_LIV_ARS=4–0
|match_LIV_BLA=1–2
|match_LIV_B&H=3–2
|match_LIV_CHE=3–1
|match_LIV_DER=1–4
|match_LIV_EVE=1–0
|match_LIV_LEI=2–2
|match_LIV_MNC=2–7
|match_LIV_MNU=3–6
|match_LIV_SOU=0–0
|match_LIV_TOT=3–4
|match_LIV_WHU=1–1
|name_MNC=Manchester City U23s
|match_MNC_ARS=4–1
|match_MNC_BLA=1–1
|match_MNC_B&H=2–1
|match_MNC_CHE=2–2
|match_MNC_DER=3–3
|match_MNC_EVE=3–1
|match_MNC_LEI=4–0
|match_MNC_LIV=3–2
|match_MNC_MNU=3–0
|match_MNC_SOU=7–1
|match_MNC_TOT=4–1
|match_MNC_WHU=5–0
|name_MNU=Manchester United U23s
|match_MNU_ARS=3–0
|match_MNU_BLA=6–4
|match_MNU_B&H=0–0
|match_MNU_CHE=4–2
|match_MNU_DER=1–3
|match_MNU_EVE=2–1
|match_MNU_LEI=0–2
|match_MNU_LIV=3–5
|match_MNU_MNC=2–2
|match_MNU_SOU=3–1
|match_MNU_TOT=4–2
|match_MNU_WHU=2–3
|name_SOU=Southampton U23s
|match_SOU_ARS=2–2
|match_SOU_BLA=0–1
|match_SOU_B&H=0–1
|match_SOU_CHE=1–4
|match_SOU_DER=1–0
|match_SOU_EVE=0–5
|match_SOU_LEI=5–2
|match_SOU_LIV=1–2
|match_SOU_MNC=5–2
|match_SOU_MNU=1–2
|match_SOU_TOT=1–1
|match_SOU_WHU=2–2
|name_TOT=Tottenham Hotspur U23s
|match_TOT_ARS=1–1
|match_TOT_BLA=1–1
|match_TOT_B&H=1–1
|match_TOT_CHE=1–4
|match_TOT_DER=1–2
|match_TOT_EVE=2–1
|match_TOT_LEI=1–5
|match_TOT_LIV=4–1
|match_TOT_MNC=1–6
|match_TOT_MNU=3–0
|match_TOT_SOU=2–1
|match_TOT_WHU=3–0
|name_WHU=West Ham United U23s
|match_WHU_ARS=2–2
|match_WHU_BLA=0–0
|match_WHU_B&H=2–3
|match_WHU_CHE=1–1
|match_WHU_DER=0–0
|match_WHU_EVE=2–1
|match_WHU_LEI=3–1
|match_WHU_LIV=2–4
|match_WHU_MNC=0–1
|match_WHU_MNU=2–0
|match_WHU_SOU=3–1
|match_WHU_TOT=1–2
}}
=Division 2=
==Table==
{{updated|match played 10 May 2021}}{{cite web |title=PREMIER LEAGUE 2 DIVISION TWO |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/premier-league-2-division-two/20202021/regular-season/r59904/|website=Soccerway |access-date=11 September 2020}}
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!width="30"|Pos!!width="220"|Club!!width="30"|P!!width="30"|W!!width="30"|D!!width="30"|L!!width="30"|F!!width="30"|A!!width="30"|GD!!width="30"|Pts | |||||||||
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|1 | align="left"|Leeds United U23s (P) | 24 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 62 | 29 | +33 | 56 |
bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
|2 | align="left"|Stoke City U23s | 24 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 41 | 30 | +11 | 45 |
bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
|3 | align="left"|Crystal Palace U23s (P) | 24 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 45 | 41 | +4 | 36 |
bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
|4 | align="left"|Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s | 24 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 40 | 36 | +4 | 36 |
bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
|5 | align="left"|Sunderland U23s | 24 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 42 | 41 | +1 | 35 |
6 | align="left"|Middlesbrough U23s | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 44 | 35 | +9 | 34 |
7 | align="left"|Burnley U23s | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 38 | 41 | –3 | 34 |
8 | align="left"|Reading U23s | 24 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 41 | 54 | –13 | 32 |
9 | align="left"|Aston Villa U23s | 24 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 46 | 48| | ||
2 | 31 | ||||||||
10 | align="left"|Fulham U23s | 24 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 38 | 46 | –8 | 30 |
11 | align="left"|Norwich City U23s | 24 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 32 | 40 | –8 | 25 |
12 | align="left"|West Bromwich Albion U23s | 24 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 37 | 49 | –12 | 25 |
13 | align="left"|Newcastle United U23s | 24 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 31 | 47 | –16 | 25 |
==Results==
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey
| update = 16 April 2021
| a_note = yes
|source=[https://www.premierleague.com/fixtures?team=U21]
|team1=AST|team2=BUR|team3=CRY|team4=FUL|team5=LEE|team6=MID|team7=NEW|team8=NOR|team9=REA|team10=STK|team11=SUN|team12=WBA|team13=WOL
|name_AST=Aston Villa U23s
|match_AST_BUR=2–3
|match_AST_CRY=4–4
|match_AST_FUL=2–3
|match_AST_LEE=1-2
|match_AST_MID=1–1
|match_AST_NEW=1–1
|match_AST_NOR=3–0
|match_AST_REA=1–2
|match_AST_STK=3–4
|match_AST_SUN=0–2
|match_AST_WBA=2–1
|match_AST_WOL=4–0
|name_BUR=Burnley U23s
|match_BUR_AST=2–2
|match_BUR_CRY=0–1
|match_BUR_FUL=2–1
|match_BUR_LEE=1–4
|match_BUR_MID=3–2
|match_BUR_NEW=1–3
|match_BUR_NOR=2–2
|match_BUR_REA=3–1
|match_BUR_STK=1–2
|match_BUR_SUN=3–2
|match_BUR_WBA=3–1
|match_BUR_WOL=0–0
|name_CRY=Crystal Palace U23s
|match_CRY_AST=0–1
|match_CRY_BUR=1–0
|match_CRY_FUL=2–3
|match_CRY_LEE=2–0
|match_CRY_MID=3–2
|match_CRY_NEW=3–0
|match_CRY_NOR=4–0
|match_CRY_REA=6–0
|match_CRY_STK=2–2
|match_CRY_SUN=1–2
|match_CRY_WBA=3–3
|match_CRY_WOL=2–1
|name_FUL=Fulham U23s
|match_FUL_AST=4–1
|match_FUL_BUR=1–4
|match_FUL_CRY=5–2
|match_FUL_LEE=1–1
|match_FUL_MID=3–1
|match_FUL_NEW=2–2
|match_FUL_NOR=0–2
|match_FUL_REA=0–3
|match_FUL_STK=1–2
|match_FUL_SUN=2–0
|match_FUL_WBA=1–0
|match_FUL_WOL=0–2
|name_LEE=Leeds United U23s
|match_LEE_AST=3–2
|match_LEE_BUR=5–2
|match_LEE_CRY=4–1
|match_LEE_FUL=7–1
|match_LEE_MID=1–0
|match_LEE_NEW=2-1
|match_LEE_NOR=2–0
|match_LEE_REA=3–0
|match_LEE_STK=1–0
|match_LEE_SUN=2–0
|match_LEE_WBA=2–1
|match_LEE_WOL=2–2
|name_MID=Middlesbrough U23s
|match_MID_AST=4–1
|match_MID_BUR=3–0
|match_MID_CRY=0–1
|match_MID_FUL=1–0
|match_MID_LEE=2–4
|match_MID_NEW=2–1
|match_MID_NOR=0–3
|match_MID_REA=2–3
|match_MID_STK=2–0
|match_MID_SUN=1–1
|match_MID_WBA=0–1
|match_MID_WOL=1–1
|name_NEW=Newcastle United U23s
|match_NEW_AST=1–2
|match_NEW_BUR=0–2
|match_NEW_CRY=2–0
|match_NEW_FUL=2–1
|match_NEW_LEE=4–3
|match_NEW_MID=2–2
|match_NEW_NOR=0–2
|match_NEW_REA=1–2
|match_NEW_STK=3–2
|match_NEW_SUN=0–4
|match_NEW_WBA=3–2
|match_NEW_WOL=0–3
|name_NOR=Norwich City U23s
|match_NOR_AST=2–3
|match_NOR_BUR=0–0
|match_NOR_CRY=3–0
|match_NOR_FUL=0–0
|match_NOR_LEE=0–2
|match_NOR_MID=1–3
|match_NOR_NEW=0–1
|match_NOR_REA=3–0
|match_NOR_STK=2–1
|match_NOR_SUN=2–3
|match_NOR_WBA=2–2
|match_NOR_WOL=1–2
|name_REA=Reading U23s
|match_REA_AST=3–1
|match_REA_BUR=0–2
|match_REA_CRY=2–1
|match_REA_FUL=0–4
|match_REA_LEE=3–2
|match_REA_MID=2–4
|match_REA_NEW=3–2
|match_REA_NOR=1–3
|match_REA_STK=1–3
|match_REA_SUN=0–2
|match_REA_WBA=5–2
|match_REA_WOL=5–0
|name_STK=Stoke City U23s
|match_STK_AST=0–2
|match_STK_BUR=0–1
|match_STK_CRY=1–0
|match_STK_FUL=1–0
|match_STK_LEE=4–0
|match_STK_MID=2–0
|match_STK_NEW=2–1
|match_STK_NOR=2–1
|match_STK_REA=4–1
|match_STK_SUN=0–0
|match_STK_WBA=4–3
|match_STK_WOL=3–1
|name_SUN=Sunderland U23s
|match_SUN_AST=2–3
|match_SUN_BUR=3–0
|match_SUN_CRY=3–4
|match_SUN_FUL=5–3
|match_SUN_LEE=1–3
|match_SUN_MID=0–6
|match_SUN_NEW=1–1
|match_SUN_NOR=3–1
|match_SUN_REA=2–1
|match_SUN_STK=1–1
|match_SUN_WBA=2–3
|match_SUN_WOL=2–1
|name_WBA=West Bromwich Albion U23s
|match_WBA_AST=3–1
|match_WBA_BUR=2–1
|match_WBA_CRY=1–2
|match_WBA_FUL=1–2
|match_WBA_LEE=0–5
|match_WBA_MID=0–1
|match_WBA_NEW=1–0
|match_WBA_NOR=3–2
|match_WBA_REA=1–1
|match_WBA_STK=0–1
|match_WBA_SUN=3–1
|match_WBA_WOL=2–4
|name_WOL=Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s
|match_WOL_AST=1–3
|match_WOL_BUR=3–2
|match_WOL_CRY=2–0
|match_WOL_FUL=3–0
|match_WOL_LEE=0–2
|match_WOL_MID=1–4
|match_WOL_NEW=4–0
|match_WOL_NOR=3–0
|match_WOL_REA=2–2
|match_WOL_STK=3–0
|match_WOL_SUN=0–0
|match_WOL_WBA=1–1
}}
===Play-offs===
{{4TeamBracket | RD1=Semi-finals| RD2=Final
| score-width = 40
| RD1-seed1=2
| RD1-team1=Stoke City U23s
| RD1-score1=0
| RD1-seed2=5
| RD1-team2=Sunderland U23s
| RD1-score2=2
| RD1-seed3=3
| RD1-team3=Crystal Palace U23s
| RD1-score3=3
| RD1-seed4=4
| RD1-team4=Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s
| RD1-score4=2
| RD2-seed1=3
| RD2-team1=Crystal Palace U23s
| RD2-score1=0 (5)(p)
| RD2-seed2=5
| RD2-team2=Sunderland U23s
| RD2-score2=0 (3)
}}
==Semifinals==
{{football box
| date = 17 May 2021
| time = 13:00
| team1 = Crystal Palace U23s
| score = 3–2
|aet=y
| attendance = 1,031
| report = https://www.premierleague.com/match/65537/premier-league-2/2020-21/crystal-palace-v-wolves
| team2 = Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s
| goals1 =
- Street {{goal|7}}
- Rich-Baghuelou {{goal|36}}
- Omilabu {{goal|100}}
| goals2 =
- Corbeanu {{goal|47||75}}
| stadium = Selhurst Park, Selhurst
| referee= Lewis Smith
}}
----
{{football box
| date = 17 May 2021
| time = 13:00
| team1 = Stoke City U23s
| score = 0–2
| aet =
| attendance = 1,481
| report = https://www.premierleague.com/match/65538/premier-league-2/2020-21/stoke-u23-v-sunderland
| team2 = Sunderland U23s
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
| stadium = Bet365 Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent
| referee= Martin Woods
}}
==Final==
{{football box
| date = 24 May 2021
| time =
| team1 = Crystal Palace U23s
| score = 0–0
| aet =
| attendance = 3,000
| report =
| team2 = Sunderland U23s
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
|penalties1=
|penaltyscore= 5–3
|penalties2=
| stadium =Selhurst Park, Selhurst
| referee= Tom Reeves
}}
Professional Development League
{{Infobox football league season
| competition = U23 Professional Development League
| image =
| pixels =
| season = 2020–21
| winners = Birmingham City U23s
| league topscorer = Louis Britton Bristol City U23s (16 Goals)
| biggest home win = {{nowrap|Queens Park Rangers U23s 5–0 Ipswich Town U23s}}
(22 September 2020)
{{nowrap|Millwall U23s 6–1 Colchester United U23s}}
( 15 December 2020)
{{nowrap| Sheffield United U23s 5–0 Birmingham City U23s}}
(12 March 2021)
{{nowrap|Cardiff City U23s 6–1 Wigan Athletic U23s}}
(30 March 2021)
| biggest away win = {{nowrap|Wigan Athletic U23s 1–11 Birmingham City U23s}}
(10 May 2021)
| highest scoring = {{nowrap| Wigan Athletic U23s 1–11 Birmingham City U23s}}
(10 May 2021)
| matches = 228
| matches footnote =
(225 RS, 3 PO)
| total goals = 726
| total goals footnote =
(717 RS, 9 PO)
| longest wins = 7 Matches Sheffield United U23s
| longest unbeaten = 9 Matches Sheffield United U23s
| longest losses = 8 Matches Colchester United U23s
| longest winless = 9 Matches Colchester United U23s
| highest attendance =
| lowest attendance =
| prevseason = 2019–20
| nextseason = 2021–22
}}
The 2020-2021 Professional Development League season is the ninth campaign of post-EPPP Under-23 football's second tier, designed for those academies with Category 2 status. A total of 18 teams are 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 for a total of 25 games. 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. Nottingham Forest and Millwall are the defending regional champions.
18 Teams competed in the league this season, a record low with 3 fewer teams than last season. Swansea City U23s dropped down to Category Two status in August 2020 and will join the South division this season after 5 years in the Premier League 2, while Burnley U23s,{{cite web |url=https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/clarets-academy-granted-category-1-status-by-the-premier-league-2905409|title= Clarets Academy granted Category 1 status by the Premier League|website= Burnley Express|date= 6 July 2020|access-date=1 October 2024}} Crystal Palace U23s,{{cite web |url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/academy/category-1-academy-status-approved/|title= Category 1 Academy status approved|website= Crystal Palace FC|date= 9 July 2020|access-date=1 October 2024}} and founding member Leeds United U23s{{cite web |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/en/news/leeds-united-academy-awarded-category-one-status|title= LEEDS UNITED ACADEMY AWARDED CATEGORY ONE STATUS|website=Leeds United|date= 8 July 2020 |access-date=1 October 2024}} joined the Premier League 2 for the 2020–21 season after gaining Category One status Academies after 3 seasons in the league for Burnley U23s, 7 seasons in the league for Crystal Palace U23s and 8 seasons in the league for founding member Leeds United U23s respectively. Bolton Wanderers U23s{{cite web |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/18277578.bolton-announce-plans-step-category-three-academy/|title= Bolton announce plans to step down to category three academy |website= Bolton News|date= 3 March 2020|access-date=30 September 2024}} also left dropping down to Category Three after 5 seasons in the league.
=Tables=
==North Division==
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=Q
|team8=SHW|name_SHW=Sheffield Wednesday U23s
|team5=HUL|name_HUL=Hull City U23s
|team11=BOL|name_BOL=Bolton Wanderers U23s
|team2=BIR|name_BIR=Birmingham City U23s
|team9=CRE|name_CRE=Crewe Alexandra U23s
|team1=SHU|name_SHU=Sheffield United U23s
|team3=NOT|name_NOT=Nottingham Forest U23s
|team4=BAR|name_BAR=Barnsley U23s
|team6=WIG|name_WIG=Wigan Athletic U23s
|team7=COV|name_COV=Coventry City U23s
|win_SHW=8|draw_SHW=5|loss_SHW=12|gf_SHW=32|ga_SHW=41
|win_HUL=12|draw_HUL=3|loss_HUL=10|gf_HUL=36|ga_HUL=32
|win_BOL=1|draw_BOL=1|loss_BOL=20|gf_BOL=16|ga_BOL=74
|win_BIR=15|draw_BIR=2|loss_BIR=8|gf_BIR=67|ga_BIR=42
|win_BUR=11|draw_BUR=8|loss_BUR=2|gf_BUR=41|ga_BUR=21
|win_CRE=6|draw_CRE=7|loss_CRE=12|gf_CRE=27|ga_CRE=45
|win_SHU=17|draw_SHU=4|loss_SHU=4|gf_SHU=60|ga_SHU=22
|win_NOT=12|draw_NOT=6|loss_NOT=7|gf_NOT=46|ga_NOT=30
|win_BAR=11|draw_BAR=8|loss_BAR=6|gf_BAR=36|ga_BAR=28
|win_COV=9|draw_COV=7|loss_COV=9|gf_COV=43|ga_COV=31
|win_WIG=11|draw_WIG=3|loss_WIG=11|gf_WIG=32|ga_WIG=54
|col_Q=#D0F0C0|text_Q=Qualification for Knock-out stage
|result1=Q|result2=Q
|update=complete|source=
}}
==South Division==
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=Q
|team5=CHA|name_CHA=Charlton Athletic U23s
|team6=MIL|name_MIL=Millwall U23s
|team3=CAR|name_CAR=Cardiff City U23s
|team1=BRI|name_BRI=Bristol City U23s
|team8=QPR|name_QPR=Queens Park Rangers U23s
|team2=IPS|name_IPS=Ipswich Town U23s
|team9=COL|name_COL=Colchester United U23s
|team4=WAT|name_WAT=Watford U23s
|team7=SWA|name_SWA=Swansea City U23s
|win_CHA=9|draw_CHA=4|loss_CHA=12|gf_CHA=46|ga_CHA=48
|win_MIL=8|draw_MIL=6|loss_MIL=11|gf_MIL=31|ga_MIL=35
|win_CAR=10|draw_CAR=2|loss_CAR=13|gf_CAR=43|ga_CAR=42
|win_COV=11|draw_COV=6|loss_COV=5|gf_COV=33|ga_COV=28
|win_BRI=16|draw_BRI=2|loss_BRI=7|gf_BRI=51|ga_BRI=35
|win_QPR=6|draw_QPR=5|loss_QPR=14|gf_QPR=27|ga_QPR=42
|win_IPS=12|draw_IPS=6|loss_IPS=7|gf_IPS=44|ga_IPS=41
|win_COL=3|draw_COL=7|loss_COL=15|gf_COL=26|ga_COL=52
|win_WAT=9|draw_WAT=5|loss_WAT=11|gf_WAT=37|ga_WAT=50
|win_SWA=6|draw_SWA=8|loss_SWA=11|gf_SWA=33|ga_SWA=47
|col_Q=#D0F0C0|text_Q=Qualification for Knock-out stage
|result1=Q|result2=Q
|update=complete|source=
}}
=Knock-out stage =
Semi-finals
{{football box
| date = 14 May 2021
| time = 19:00
| team1 = Bristol City U23s
| score = 1–2
| aet = yes
| attendance =
| report = http://youthhawk.co.uk/w/index.php/Bristol_City_1-2_Birmingham_City_(2020-21_Professional_Development_League_2)
| team2 = Birmingham City U23s
| goals1 =
- Edwards {{goal|26}}
| goals2 =
| stadium =Ashton Gate, Bristol
| referee=
}}
----
{{football box
| date = 17 May 2021
| time = 19:00
| team1 = Sheffield United U23s
| score = 4–0
| attendance = Behind Closed Doors
| report = http://youthhawk.co.uk/w/index.php/Sheffield_United_4-0_Ipswich_Town_(2020-21_Professional_Development_League_2)
| team2 = Ipswich Town U23s
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
| stadium = Brammall Lane, Sheffield
| referee=
}}
Professional Development League National Final
{{football box
| date = 24 May 2021
| time = 19:00
| team1 = Sheffield United U23s
| score = 0–2
| attendance =
| report =
| team2 = Birmingham City U23s
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
- George {{goal|6||15}}
| stadium =Brammall Lane, Sheffield
| referee=
}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{2020–21 in English men's football}}
{{Professional Development League}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Professional U23 Development League 2020-21}}