Leeds United Under-21s are due to compete in a 25-team Premier League 2 top tier competition next season, following changes to the league structure. That’s according to Youth Hawk, via Training Ground Guru, who claim Premier League clubs have voted to implement a Swiss-style league format at youth level.
The Whites enjoyed huge success last season at U21 level as they bounced back from relegation to win promotion from Division 2 through the play-offs. However, while the promotion was clearly an impressive achievement, the league structure changes mean every other second tier team will also be stepping up to create one large division.
According to the report, starting from the start of next season, all 25 teams with category one academies will be thrown together in one league. Teams will be seeded, with previous performances set to dictate fixtures over the course of a 20-game season, rather than just a straight round robin, before a 16-team knockout competition will determine the winner of the competition.
This Swiss model will become very familiar to football fans over the next few years with the Champions League due to take on the same format from the 2024-25 season. Leeds, then, will be due to take on the heavy hitters in English youth development, while also competing against most of those who they took on last season in the second tier, but they won’t meet every member of the league.
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The changes have been made in order to eliminate a focus on promotion and relegation at youth level, amid fears that retaining league position and status could take precedence over the development of young players. It should be noted that the Premier League is yet to confirm the changes.
Leeds will, no doubt, hope to build on the success they found last year by carrying their form into the new season and potentially claiming a play-off spot.
