Sunderland’s under-23s will compete in the Premier League 2 during the 2016-17 season.
A restructuring of the U21 Premier League, the Premier League 2 sees the age limit rise from under-21 to under-23.
The format for the competition will remain the same – 12 teams in Division One and 12 in Division Two – with every club playing each other once at home and once away.
Relegation and promotion will also be in play with the bottom two teams in Division One relegated to Division Two, with the Division Two champions promoted automatically and the teams ranked second, third, fourth and fifth entering into a promotion play-off.
The team who tops Division One are champions.
Sunderland will open their Division One campaign at home to Chelsea before travelling to Leicester City, with a home tie against Southampton wrapping up the opening month of their season.
For a full list of fixtures please see below.
Division One teams
Arsenal, Chelsea, Derby County, Everton, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Reading, Southampton, Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur
Division Two teams
Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Norwich City, Swansea City, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Sunderland Premier League 2 fixture list
August
Sun Aug 14 Chelsea H 12.05pm
Mon Aug 22 Leicester City A 7pm
Sun Aug 28 Southampton H 12pm
September
Sat Sept 10 Everton A 7pm
Sun Sept 18 Manchester City H 12pm
Sun Sept 25 Liverpool A 1pm
October
Sun Oct 16 Derby County H 12pm
Sun Oct 23 Reading H 12pm
Fri Oct 28 Arsenal A 7pm
November
Mon Nov 21 Manchester United A 7pm
Mon Nov 28 Tottenham Hotspur H 7pm
December
Mon Dec 12 Southampton A 12pm
January
Sun Jan 08 Everton H 12pm
Mon Jan 16 Derby County A 7pm
Sun Jan 29 Liverpool H 12pm
February
Fri Feb 03 Manchester City A 7pm
Mon Feb 20 Tottenham Hotspur A 7pm
March
Sun Mar 05 Manchester United H 12pm
Sun Mar 12 Leicester City H 12pm
April
Fri Apr 07 Chelsea A 7.05pm
Sun Apr 23 Arsenal H 12pm
May
Mon May 08 Reading A 7pm
