The Premier League 2 reverted back to a U21 competition ahead of the 2022–23 season.
[1] Burnley, Birmingham City and Reading left the league after failing to retain category one academy status.
[10] The Professional Development League is Under-21 football's second tier, designed for those academies with Category 2 status.
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.
Reading U21s joined after temporarily dropping to Category Two status after 10 seasons in the Premier League 2.