The age limit for players in Premier League 2 has risen from under-21 to under-23. Teams will also be able to field three ‘over-age’ outfield players and an ‘over-age’ goalkeeper.

The format for the competition remains the same, with the Blues returning to action alongside 11 other teams in Division One following a fifth-place finish for Adi Viveash’s side last term. They will play each team in the league both home and away, with the league winners crowned national champions and the bottom two sides relegated to Division Two. Arsenal and Derby County replace Middlesbrough and Norwich City in the top tier after their promotion last season.

Our Under-21 side won the league title in 2013/14 under the stewardship of Dermot Drummy, who was recently appointed manager of League Two Crawley Town.

We start the 2016/17 campaign with an away trip to Sunderland on Sunday 14 August, before hosting Liverpool at Aldershot on Monday 22 August and then travelling to last season’s league winners Manchester United six days later. The full list of fixtures is detailed below.

Our development team will also be taking part in the Premier League International Cup once again this season. The competition is expanding to 24 teams made up of 12 English sides and 12 European clubs. The format remains unchanged. Fixtures will be confirmed next month.

