With the release of the fixtures for Premier League 2, we look at some of the stars of last season's Under-21 Premier League, the competition it replaces from the 2016/17 campaign.
Bersant Celina ended the 2015/16 season as Manchester City’s top scorer in the U21 Premier League, and he celebrated by signing a three-year contract extension until the summer of 2020.
Celina, who also made his first-team debut last term, told mancity.com in May: “It feels very good, it’s amazing to sign for a club I love.
“I was really happy to make my debut here this season at Norwich – it was a proud moment for me and my family."
Celina joined Man City in 2012 from Norwegian side Stromsgodset and made a big impact in 2014/15, netting nine goals in 14 league appearances for the Under-18 side. Four strikes in seven matches in the UEFA Youth League followed.
He also stepped up to the Under-21s, where he was on target three times in 10 outings before continuing his upward curve last season.
In 2015/16 he scored 12 goals in 26 Under-21 appearances and made his senior debut as a late substitute in January’s 3-0 FA Cup win at Norwich City.
His Premier League debut followed at home to Leicester City at the start of February before making his first senior start in the FA Cup tie at Chelsea.
Celina grew up in Norway but has chosen to play for the country of his birth, Kosovo. He was the youngest player in the squad for their first official match in March 2014 and is likely to play in their forthcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers, having already been capped for the national side.
