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This summer promises to be jam-packed for the Premier League’s best and brightest.
Euro 2024, the Copa America and also the men’s football tournament at the Olympic Games in Paris are all on the agenda. All the while, the 20 teams from England’s top flight will be preparing for the start of the 2024-25 season on the weekend of August 17-18.
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There will be friendlies both at home and in prestigious stadiums across the globe, with Premier League teams playing each other in the United States.
Here’s what every Premier League club has planned for pre-season…
Arsenal
Arsenal return to the U.S. this summer for their pre-season tour. The club have scheduled two friendlies: on July 28, they face Manchester United at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and then on July 31, they play Liverpool at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field. The club are expected to confirm a third friendly, most likely against Bournemouth, at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles.
As a consequence of Euro 2024, Arsenal will forego their annual trip to the Adidas HQ in Germany. Manchester United’s victory in the FA Cup final means Arsenal will be absent from the Community Shield this year, so the club are likely to host a final friendly at the Emirates Stadium.
This may take the form of a compressed version of the Emirates Cup.
Confirmed fixtures
- July 27: vs Manchester United (SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles)
- July 31: vs Liverpool (Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia)
James McNicholas
Aston Villa
Villa will begin pre-season preparations at the start of July when the squad convene and return to the familiar coaching drillings of Unai Emery.
As is customary between the two clubs, Villa’s pre-season schedule begins on July 17 against Walsall and they will return to the Bescot Stadium in August to play Athletic Bilbao once they arrive back in England after a three-match tour of the U.S.
Before that tour, Emery’s side will also have a short stopover in Slovakia to face FC Spartak Trnava. After it, they face Borussia Dortmund in Germany.
As with last summer, Villa base themselves in Washington for the first part of the American trip, which will see them play three games across three different cities in six days.
The first fixture is against Colombus Crew on July 27, with Villa travelling to Ohio, before then playing RB Leipzig in New Jersey four days later. Villa conclude their U.S. tour by going to Chicago and taking on Mexican champions Club America.
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Confirmed fixtures
- July 17: vs Walsall (Bescot Stadium, England)
- July 20: vs Spartak Trnava (Anton Malatinsky Stadium, Trnava)
- July 27: vs Columbus Crew (Lower.com Field, Ohio)
- July 31: vs RB Leipzig (Red Bull Arena, New Jersey)
- August 3: vs Club America (Soldier Field, Chicago)
- August 7: vs Athletic Bilbao (Bescot Stadium, Walsall)
- August 10: vs Borussia Dortmund (Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund)
Jacob Tanswell
Bournemouth
It helps to have friends in high places — particularly your own chairman.
Bournemouth are heading stateside for their pre-season tour this summer. And thanks to their American owner Bill Foley, they’ll be put up at the five-star Hotel Californian in Santa Barbara, which he bought in 2021.
The ‘Bourne in the USA’ tour (stop cringing) will comprise two matches, the first of which has been announced against Hollywood’s favourite EFL team, Wrexham, on Saturday, July 20, at Harder Stadium. Bournemouth’s second is expected to be against Arsenal in Los Angeles.
USMNT captain Tyler Adams is bound to be popular among American fans as Bournemouth make use of the training facilities of MLS team LA Galaxy. When they return to the UK, Bournemouth plan to play two friendlies at their Vitality Stadium.
Confirmed fixtures
- July 20: vs Wrexham (Harder Stadium, Santa Barbara)
Dan Barnes
Brentford
Thomas Frank’s side participated in the Premier League’s Summer Series last year and everybody involved described it as a positive experience that they would be keen to repeat in the future. However, the event is not taking place in 2024, which means Brentford have opted for a low-key pre-season training camp in Lisbon in July.
They have announced fixtures against Watford at Vicarage Road on August 3 and will then host German side Wolfsburg on August 9.
Before that, they are set to play non-League side Sutton United in a behind-closed-doors game, but their traditional fixture against Boreham Wood has not been confirmed yet.
Confirmed fixtures
- July 20: vs Sutton United (behind closed doors)
- August 3: vs Watford (Vicarage Road)
- August 9: vs Wolfsburg (Gtech Community Stadium)
Jay Harris
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton are swapping west for east after taking part in the Premier League’s Summer Series in the U.S. last summer.
This time around, they are focusing on the popularity of winger Kaoru Mitoma in his homeland with a pre-season trip to Japan.
They play twice at Tokyo’s national stadium against J1 League sides Kashima Antlers on July 24 (kick-off 11am UK time) and Tokyo Verdy on July 28 (10.30am). Mitoma, ruled out since February by a back injury, is expected to play a part.
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The visit to Japan is followed by a friendly away to Championship side Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Saturday, August 3 (3pm).
That leaves scope for a home game the following weekend, in what has become a traditional curtain-raiser for the new season, against European opponents, who have yet to be named.
Confirmed fixtures
- July 24: vs Kashima Antlers (National Stadium, Tokyo)
- July 28: vs Tokyo Verdy (National Stadium, Tokyo)
- August 3: vs Queens Park Rangers (Loftus Road)
Andy Naylor
Chelsea
Enzo Marseca will be able to start work with his players for the first time when those not involved in internationals over the summer report back on July 4.
As things stand, no other friendlies have been arranged other than those on the club’s pre-season tour to the U.S. They have been in talks with League Two side AFC Wimbledon over playing a match before setting off across the Atlantic, although nothing has been confirmed as yet.
Chelsea are going to play five games in the space of 14 days in America, with the amount of distance covered on the trip coming in at over 13,000 miles.
Maresca’s side has games against Wrexham, Celtic and Club America to build some momentum before the much tougher tests of Manchester City and Real Madrid.
Confirmed fixtures
- July 24: vs Wrexham (Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara)
- July 27: vs Celtic (Notre Dame Stadium, Indiana)
- July 31: vs Club America (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta)
- August 3: vs Manchester City (Ohio Stadium, Columbus)
- August 6: vs Real Madrid (Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte)
Simon Johnson
Crystal Palace
Palace will return to the U.S. this summer, participating in a mini-tour alongside Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United.
They will play Wolves on Wednesday, July 31, at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium — the stadium their former sister team Crystal Palace Baltimore called home for a season.
They then face West Ham on Saturday, August 3, before returning to the UK. No further pre-season matches have been announced for the first team.
Confirmed fixtures
- July 31: vs Wolves (Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Maryland)
- August 3: vs West Ham (Raymond James Stadium, Florida)
Matt Woosnam
Everton
After trips to the U.S. and the France/Swiss border in recent years, Everton are staying closer to home this summer.
The club have announced three fixtures so far, with away trips to Salford City (July 27), Coventry City (July 30) and Preston North End (August 3) pencilled in.
Before that, manager Sean Dyche and his players will head for a training camp, with more fixtures to be announced in due course.
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Confirmed fixtures
- July 27: vs Salford (Peninsula Stadium)
- July 30: vs Coventry (Coventry Building Society Arena)
- August 3: vs Preston (Deepdale)
Patrick Boyland
Fulham
In a repeat of last year, Fulham will face Hoffenheim to round off their pre-season preparations.
Summer signings Raul Jimenez and Calvin Bassey scored to give Marco Silva’s side a 2-1 win at the Craven Cottage in August 2023. But this time, Fulham will travel to Germany. The game will take place at Hoffenheim’s PreZero Arena on August 10, a week before the Premier League kicks off again.
Unlike previous seasons, Fulham are leaving it late to announce their plans for the first half of the summer. Twelve months ago, they travelled to the United States for the Premier League Summer Series and the season before that, they played in the Algarve Football Cup on Portugal’s south coast.
Confirmed fixtures
- August 10: vs Hoffenheim (PreZero Arena, Sinsheim)
Justin Guthrie
Ipswich Town
It’s all change at Ipswich this summer as the club prepares for a first season in the Premier League in 22 years, but they will welcome a familiar opponent to Portman Road in pre-season.
Ipswich host Fortuna Dusseldorf on July 27, having formed a long-standing friendship with the second-tier German side over the past 18 years. What began as an innocuous trip to Ipswich in 2006 by the former Fortuna stadium announcer Ulli Munsterberg has blossomed into an annual Portman Road pilgrimage for a large group of Fortuna fans, with Ipswich supporters frequently making the return trip to Germany too.
Just as they did last summer, Kieran McKenna’s side will also head to Austria in pre-season.
Confirmed fixtures
- July 27: vs Fortuna Dusseldorf (Portman Road)
Ali Rampling
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Leicester City
The departure of Maresca to Chelsea has put plans for pre-season on hold until a new manager is brought in at Leicester City.
The aim this summer was to take advantage of a longer break until the Premier League kicks off on August 17, allowing more time to work on Maresca’s tactical approach.
After an initial week of testing and fitness work at their Seagrave training camp in north Leicestershire, the players will head to a European training camp and then play a selection of friendlies, some abroad and some against lower-league sides away from home. Traditionally, they finish with a home friendly.
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However, Leicester’s plans will not be finalised until their next manager arrives.
Rob Tanner
Liverpool
Liverpool will embark on a pre-season tour of America for the first time since 2019 next month.
The three matches in the U.S. are the only friendlies confirmed as a new era begins, with head coach Arne Slot taking over from Jurgen Klopp.
The tour will kick off against Spanish side Real Betis at Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium on Friday, July 26. Then, Liverpool will fly to Philadelphia to take on Arsenal at Lincoln Financial Field on Wednesday, July 31. The final date of the tour is a match with Manchester United at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, on Saturday, August 3.
Those players not on international duty at either the European Championship or the Copa America will report back to Kirkby for the start of pre-season testing in early July. More friendly dates will be added to the schedule, with one likely to be played at Anfield after the tour of the States.
Confirmed fixtures
- July 27: vs Real Betis (Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh)
- July 31: vs Arsenal (Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia)
- August 3: vs Manchester United (Williams-Brice Stadium, South Carolina)
James Pearce
Manchester City
After visiting South Korea and Japan last year, Manchester City are Stateside once again this summer for a four-game tour as part of pre-season competition FC Series, formerly known as the Florida Cup.
City, the winners of four consecutive Premier League titles, begin by facing Celtic, the winners of three consecutive Scottish Premiership titles, in North Carolina on July 24. City then play AC Milan in New York four days later.
The standout fixture will see Pep Guardiola come up against his former employers Barcelona in Orlando on July 31 before City round off their trip against Chelsea in Ohio on August 3.
Confirmed fixtures
- July 23: vs Celtic (Kenan Stadium, North Carolina)
- July 27: vs AC Milan (Yankee Stadium, New York)
- July 30: vs Barcelona (Camping World Stadium, Orlando)
- August 3: vs Chelsea (Ohio Stadium, Columbus)
Mark Critchley
Manchester United
United’s pre-season schedule follows a similar pattern to last summer’s, with a game in Norway, a game in Scotland and then a tour of the States.
First up is a trip to Trondheim to play Rosenborg on July 15 before a return to Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium to face Rangers five days later.
United will later fly out to Los Angeles, where they will face Arsenal at the SoFi Stadium on July 27 before making the trip to take on Real Betis at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium, which shares its name with United’s new front-of-shirt sponsor.
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Having started on the west coast, the tour rounds off on the east. Liverpool await at the Williams-Brice Stadium in South Carolina on August 3.
Confirmed fixtures
- July 15: vs Rosenborg (Lerkendal Stadion, Trondheim)
- July 20: vs Rangers (Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
- July 27: vs Arsenal (SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles)
- July 31: vs Real Betis (Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego)
- Aug 3: vs Liverpool (Williams-Brice Stadium, South Carolina)
Mark Critchley
Newcastle United
Newcastle United’s pre-season schedule is looking pretty light at the moment — but that is because they have only confirmed their tour of Japan so far. That will take place at the end of July, with matches against the Urawa Red Diamonds and Yokohama F Marinos in and around Tokyo.
Before that, however, Newcastle are expected to head to Herzogenaurach in Germany, to Adidas’s state-of-the-art headquarters, for a training camp.
There will also likely be some domestic friendlies in July, as well as the Sela Cup at St James’ Park on the weekend of August 10-11, while Eddie Howe, the head coach, is also looking to arrange some behind-closed-doors matches.
That is something Howe tends to do anyway during pre-season, but the need to get game time into Sandro Tonali’s legs, given the Italian’s 10-month ban for betting offences ends on August 29 and he cannot play in front of crowds, is also a factor.
And, of course, let’s not forget that Newcastle played a friendly against Tottenham Hotspur in Australia last month.
Confirmed fixtures
- July 31: vs Urawa Red Diamonds (Saitama Stadium, Saitama)
- August 3: vs Yokohama F. Marinos (National Stadium, Tokyo)
Chris Waugh
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest will return to Spain for a pre-season training camp, replicating their preparations last season.
They are again likely to play a friendly game against Valencia, the team closest to their training venue, as well as one other match against Spanish opposition.
Forest are also in the process of finalising two friendly matches at the City Ground, one of which will be against French opposition, as they look to hone themselves for a third successive season of top-flight football.
Paul Taylor
Southampton
Southampton’s season ran longer than any other team set to play in the Premier League this season as they secured promotion via the Championship play-offs.
Their 1-0 win over Leeds United at Wembley in the final on May 26 means they have only just finished celebrating promotion, but the new season is not far away.
Southampton owner Dragan Solak promised the players the party of their lives if they secured a route back into the Premier League and in the meantime, fans are awaiting official pre-season fixture announcements.
When Russell Martin’s side do return to pre-season training, they could be without Will Smallbone, Jan Bednarek, Che Adams and Kamaldeen Sulemana, who are all due to be in action for their national teams this month (for the Republic of Ireland, Poland, Scotland and Ghana respectively).
Sport Republic’s network of clubs offers the chance for easily arranged friendlies, like last summer when Southampton played Goztepe in a pre-season camp in Turkey.
Nancy Froston
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur’s pre-season plans kick off with a trip to Scotland to face Hearts on July 17, followed up by a London derby against Queens Park Rangers three days later.
Then, Ange Postecoglou’s squad, who played Newcastle in Australia last month, will fly to Asia for a two-week tour. Due to the Copa America and the European Championship, the amount of first-team players who travel will probably be quite low.
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Spurs take on Vissel Kobe at Japan’s National Stadium in Tokyo on July 27 and then move on to South Korea, where they will take on a K League All-Stars side. They round off their time in South Korea with a friendly against Bayern Munich, which will reunite them with Harry Kane and Eric Dier. The fixture will also pit Son Heung-min and Kim Min-jae, two of the biggest Korean stars, directly against each other.
Spurs conclude their preparations for the 2024-25 season with another clash against Bayern, but this time it will be at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, allowing their UK-based fans to show their appreciation for Kane and Dier’s contributions over the last decade.
Confirmed fixtures
- July 17: vs Hearts (Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh)
- July 20: vs Queens Park Rangers (Loftus Road)
- July 27: vs Vissel Kobe (National Stadium, Tokyo)
- July 31: vs Team K-League (Seoul World Cup Stadium)
- August 3: vs Bayern Munich (Seoul World Cup Stadium)
- August 10: vs Bayern Munich (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)
Jay Harris
West Ham United
West Ham will start their pre-season preparations on July 20 when they face non-League side Dagenham & Redbridge at the Chigwell Construction Stadium — where the club’s women’s team play their home matches.
Following that short trip, Julen Lopetegui’s side will travel to the U.S. for the Sunshine State Tour.
They will face Wolverhampton Wanderers at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville on July 27 then Crystal Palace in Tampa a week later before returning to the UK.
Confirmed fixtures
- July 20: vs Dagenham and Redbridge (Chigwell Construction Stadium, London)
- July 27: vs Wolves (EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida)
- August 3: vs Crystal Palace (Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida)
Roshane Thomas
Wolverhampton Wanderers
The only pre-season fixtures confirmed by Wolves so far are against Crystal Palace and West Ham — the latter now managed by former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui — during a tour of the United States’ east coast in late July that will be the centrepiece of their preparations for the new campaign.
They are also planning a week in Spain shortly after they report back for training at the start of July, but that trip is not expected to feature any official games
Confirmed fixtures
- July 27: vs West Ham (EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida)
- July 31: vs Crystal Palace (Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Maryland)
Steve Madeley
(Top photo: Liverpool arrive in Singapore in July 2023; Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)