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
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
Results
Division 2 Table
Results
Play-offs
Semifinals
Final
Top goalscorers
Rank Player Club Goals1 Donovan WilsonWolverhampton Wanderers U23s132 Stephen HumphrysFulham U23s12 Toni MartínezWest Ham United U23s Harry WilsonLiverpool U23s5 Oliver McBurnieSwansea City U23s11 Paolo FernandesManchester City EDS Ike UgboChelsea U23s8 Lukas NmechaManchester City EDS99 Josh HarropManchester United U23s8 Andrija NovakovichEverton U23s George WilliamsFulham U23s Ben WoodburnLiverpool U23s13 Oumar NiasseEverton U23s7 Harry CharsleyEverton U23s Charles VernamDerby County U23s Shayon HarrisonTottenham Hotspur U23s Rushian Hepburn-MurphyAston Villa U23s Brahim DiazManchester City EDS Julien NgoyStoke City U23s Olufela OlomolaSouthampton U23s
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Division Libor Kozak Aston Villa U23s Newcastle United U23s 4–0 (H) Division 2 Donovan Wilson Wolverhampton Wanderers U23sNewcastle United U23s 4–1 (H) Division 2 Oumar Niasse Everton U23sReading U23s 3–6 (A) Division 1 Stephen Humphrys Fulham U23sMiddlesbrough U23s 1–4 (A) Division 2 Edward Nketiah Arsenal U23sLeicester City U23s 3–0 (H) Division 1 Toni Martínez West Ham United U23sWolverhampton Wanderers U23s 0–4 (A) Division 2 Oliver McBurnie Swansea City U23s Newcastle United U23s 3–1 (H) Division 2 Brahim Diaz Manchester City EDSChelsea U23s 3–4 (A) Division 1 Mikael Soisalo Middlesbrough U23sBlackburn Rovers U23s 4–1 (H) Division 2 Yaya Sanogo Arsenal U23sReading U23s 2–5 (A) Division 1 Josh Harrop Manchester United U23sTottenham Hotspur U23s 2–5 (A) Division 1 Note (H) – Home; (A) – Away 4 – player scored 4 goals
Awards Player of the Year: Oliver McBurnie (Swansea City U23s) Player of the Month MonthPlayerClubRef.August Ethan RobsonSunderland U23sSeptember Rushian Hepburn-MurphyAston Villa U23sOctober Paolo FernandesManchester City EDSNovember Josh SimsSouthampton U23sDecember Jonathan LekoWest Bromwich Albion U23sJanuary Oliver McBurnieSwansea City U23sFebruary Liam WalshEverton U23sMarch Julien NgoyStoke City U23sApril Kieran DowellEverton U23s
League 2
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. Tables North Division
South Division
Knock-out stage Semi-finals
Final
Top goalscorers
Rank Player Club Goals1 George HirstSheffield Wednesday U23s162 Ben BreretonNottingham Forest U23s13 Ebere EzeQueens Park Rangers U23s Callum SaundersCrewe Alexandra U23s5 Karlan Ahearne-GrantCharlton Athletic U23s12 Ben MorrisSheffield United U23s7 Michael FoliviCoventry City U23s/Watford U23s11 Mikhail KennedyCharlton Athletic U23s Daniel UdohCrewe Alexandra U23s10 Will AnnanHull City U23s10 Jarrod BowenHull City U23s Jordan HallamSheffield United U23s Devon Kelly-EvansCoventry City U23s Noel LeightonMillwall U23s Shawn McCoulskyBristol City U23s Alex SamizadehBolton Wanderers U23s Eoghan StokesLeeds United U23s George ThomasCoventry City U23s Joshua UmerahCharlton Athletic U23s
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Jonathan Edwards Hull City U23s Bristol City U23s 5–0 (H) Ebere Eze Queens Park Rangers U23sCrystal Palace U23s 4–1 (H) Alex Samizadeh4 Bolton Wanderers U23sQueens Park Rangers U23s 6–1 (H) Devon Kelly-Evans Coventry City U23sBarnsley U23s 1–4 (A) Ben Brereton4 Nottingham Forest U23sQueens Park Rangers U23s 0–5 (A) Shawn McCoulsky Bristol City U23sColchester United U23s 0–5 (A) Marcus Antonsson Leeds United U23sHuddersfield Town U23s 2–3 (A) Diego De Girolamo Bristol City U23sCardiff City U23s 3–3 (H) Reece Grego-Cox Queens Park Rangers U23sCoventry City U23s 0–3 (A) Mikhail Kennedy Charlton Athletic U23sIpswich Town U23s 4–0 (H) Shawn McCoulsky Bristol City U23sColchester United U23s 4–1 (H) Monty Patterson Ipswich Town U23sWatford U23s 8–0 (H) Dominic Samuel Ipswich Town U23sWatford U23s 8–0 (H) James Waite4 Cardiff City U23sWatford U23s 7–1 (H) George HirstSheffield Wednesday U23s Hull City U23s 2–3 (A) Jordan Hallam4 Sheffield United U23sBristol City U23s 5–0 (H) Shawn McCoulsky Bristol City U23sWatford U23s 4–1 (H) Aramide Oteh4 Queens Park Rangers U23sColchester United U23s 1–7 (A) Note (H) – Home; (A) – Away 4 – player scored 4 goals
See also 2016–17 Professional U18 Development League 2016–17 Premier League Cup 2016–17 in English football
References