Swansea City Development EFL Trophy Gary Richards Cameron Toshack

Swansea City's Academy side have been invited to play in the new format of the EFL Trophy for the 2016-17 season with a Wembley final up for grabs.

The new-look competition, formerly known as Football League Trophy, has invited 16 Category One Academy clubs to play in the competition alongside sides from League One and League Two.

Swansea City will join Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Southampton, Stoke City, Sunderland, Tottenham, West Brom and West Ham's Academies in the group stage, beginning in August, if all invites are accepted.

A total of 64 clubs will compete in the competition beginning with 16 groups of four teams, each of which will include at least one club from each of Leagues One and Two, alongside one invited team. The top two sides in each group will then go into a knockout stage that will culminate in a showpiece final at Wembley Stadium in April. 

The new look competition will also have a £1.95 million prize fund up for grabs, including £10,000 per win and £5,000 per draw during the Group Stage and £100,000 for the eventual winner.

"We are delighted to have been invited to take part in this exciting new format of the EFL Trophy," said Swans Development coach Gary Richards.

"The competition which pits us against experienced pros from League One and Two will be a great experience for our young players and can only help aid their development."
Fellow coach Cameron Toshack added: "We are looking forward to seeing who we get in the group stages and playing our first game in the competition come August."

EFL Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey said: "The new format is intended to rejuvenate this competition and also assist the development of the very best young players. This will help us deliver more and better home grown players which will deliver benefits to the national team and domestic league football at all levels. 

"I believe this is the right time to pilot these changes to the EFL Trophy, which we will review at the end of the 2016/17 season following discussions with our clubs and having consulted with the other football bodies and supporter organisations." 

Swansea City's first team have lifted the trophy twice in their history, during the 1993-94 season with a win on penalties over Huddersfield Town before Lee Trundle and Adebayo Akinfenwa helped the Swans to a 2-1 win over Carlisle United in 2006.