The fixtures for the 2025/26 Under-18 Premier League season have been released, with champions Aston Villa kicking off their title defence at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday 16 August.
Villa were crowned 2024/25 U18s Premier League national champions after beating Manchester City 1-0 in the final, after winning the U18 Premier League South title. They made it three trophies last season when they also won the FA Youth Cup. Last season's beaten U18PL finalists, Man City, kick off their campaign at home to Leeds United, also on 16 August.
What is the U18PL format? The Under-18 Premier League is where the 29 Category One Club Academies play, and is split into the North and South Division, with no promotion or relegation. The two regional division champions play in a National Final for the overall U18 Premier League title, as won by Villa last season.
Welcoming three new clubs Three new clubs are entering the competition this season - Birmingham City, Burnley and Ipswich Town - after being granted the Category One status that has allowed them to join the competition. Birmingham and Ipswich will both be competing in the South division, while Burnley take their place in the North section.
North group
Blackburn Rovers
Burnley
Derby County
Everton
Middlesbrough
Stoke City
Manchester City
Newcastle United
South group
Arsenal
Aston Villa
Birmingham City
Brighton & Hove Albion
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Fulham
Leeds United
Leicester City
Liverpool
Ipswich Town
Manchester United
Norwich City
Reading
Southampton
Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur
West Bromwich Albion
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
To further enhance the development of U18 players, all clubs also have the opportunity to compete in the U18 PL Cup and the FA Youth Cup. All the 2025/26 U18 Premier League fixtures are available on the U18 PL fixtures page.
U18 PL Matchweek 1 fixtures Saturday 16 August
North group
11:00 Derby County v Nottingham Forest
11:00 Everton v Manchester United
11:00 Middlesbrough v Wolverhampton Wanderers
11:00 Stoke City v Liverpool
11:30 Manchester City v Leeds United
12:00 Burnley v Sunderland
12:30 Newcastle United v Blackburn Rovers
South group
11:00 Birmingham City v Crystal Palace
11:00 Brighton & Hove Albion v Aston Villa
11:00 Ipswich Town v West Bromwich Albion
11:00 Tottenham Hotspur v Reading
11:30 Southampton v West Ham United
12:00 Leicester City v Fulham
12:00 Norwich City v Arsenal
Fans can follow all the latest PL2 and Under-18 Premier League matches by clicking on the Matches section tab at the top of the home page.