2016–17 EFL Trophy
| Country |
 England Wales
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Teams | 64 | ||
| Defending champions | Barnsley | ||
| Champions | Coventry City | ||
| Runners-up | Oxford United | ||
|
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The 2016–17 EFL Trophy, known as the Checkatrade Trophy for sponsorship reasons, was the 33rd season in the history of the competition and the 1st since being rebranded from Football League Trophy. It was played as a knock-out tournament for English football clubs in League One and League Two of the English football system and for the first time was expanded to include 16 Premier League and Championship "B Teams" with Category One status as part of a trial.
In all, 64 clubs entered the competition. Barnsley were the reigning champions, but were unable to defend their title following promotion to the Championship.
On 9 June 2016, the newly rebranded EFL announced that the 2016–17 EFL Trophy competition would include sixteen "category 1 Premier League academy sides" for the first time. The first knockout round would also be replaced with a new group stage, the sixteen regional groups each to comprise three League One/Two teams plus an academy side, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the knockout second round.
Following the EFL's announcement of these format changes, many of the invited clubs declined to allow their academies to participate, and their places had to filled by the academy sides of several Championship clubs.
Reception to the new format by League One and Two fans was overwhelmingly negative. The opening rounds of fixtures were marked by record low attendances, and the format changes were described as "a complete and utter failure".
Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur declined to participate.
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