With the announcement of an expanded Premier League International Cup for this season, with the competition grown to accommodate 24 clubs in total this year - 12 domestic and 12 foreign - as part of wider changes to what was formerly the Under 21 set up, the new Under 23 age category competition has had the groups drawn today.
The competition will see 12 of the domestic Academy sides face off against 12 of the best foreign Academy sides and has been split into six groups of four teams.
The Groups are:
Group A:
Derby County, Sunderland, PSV Eindhoven, SL Benfica.
Group B:
Manchester United, Middlesbrough, AC Sparta Prague, Villarreal CF.
Group C:
Leicester City, Liverpool, FC Porto, VfL Wolfsburg.
Group D:
Chelsea, Swansea City, GNK Dinamo Zagreb, Feyenoord.
Group E:
Aston Villa, Norwich City, Celtic, Valencia.
Group F:
Everton, Reading, Athletic Club Bilbao, Hertha BSC.
Like the Premier League 2 format - and those Academy sides taking part in this year's English EFL Trophy trial - clubs are able to use a maximum of three overage players, and one overage goalkeeper should they choose.
The official announcement of the fixture dates for these ties will be announced on Friday August 5, and until then individual clubs involved with no doubt have their own announcements shortly about what fans can expect from the competition.
