Chelsea among six Premier League teams to tour US in July

A total of nine pre-season matches will be held across five cities

Chelsea players take part in training on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 ahead of their Champions League clash with Real Madrid. AFP

The US will host a pre-season tournament featuring six Premier League clubs from July 22-30, the league announced on Tuesday.

The six clubs involved in the tournament are Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Fulham and Newcastle United. The teams will compete in nine matches across five cities.

The tournament will be played in five cities along the east coast.

"We are delighted to be bringing six clubs to the USA in July for the first-ever Premier League Summer Series tournament," Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said on Tuesday.

"Our clubs have incredible supporters in the US, who passionately follow their teams throughout the season.

"We have seen this dedication first-hand from the tens of thousands who have attended our Mornings Live fan events and are excited to be building on this by bringing live Premier League action to five cities this summer."

The tournament will begin with Chelsea playing Brighton at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on July 22.

Fulham face Brentford before Newcastle and Aston Villa go head-to-head at the same venue the following day.

The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Orlando's Exploria Stadium, Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, and FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, will also host games.

The Premier League previously hosted pre-season matches overseas in its Asia Trophy competition, with nine editions having taken place in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand since 2003.

Chelsea's interim manager Frank Lampard with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during a training session in Cobham on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 - on the eve of their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid. AFP

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard during training in Cobham on Tuesday. AFP

Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, left, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during training. AFP

Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah during training on Tuesday. Reuters

Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk takes part in a training session. Reuters

Chelsea's Reece James and Raheem Sterling during training. Reuters

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, centre, and Eder Militao take part in a training session at Valdebebas Sport City. AFP

Karim Benzema trains on Tuesday. EPA

From right: Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, Vinicius Jr and Aurelien Tchouameni during training. EPA

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti oversees training. EPA

Karim Benzema, left, and Eduardo Camavinga take part in a training session. AFP

Premier League USA tour 2023

July 22

Chelsea v Brighton & Hove Albion at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

July 23

Fulham v Brentford, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Newcastle United v Aston Villa, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

July 26

Brentford v Brighton, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Chelsea v Newcastle United, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Fulham v Aston Villa, Exploria Stadium, Orlando

July 28

Brighton v Newcastle United, Red Bull Arena, New Jersey

July 30

Aston Villa v Brentford, FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland

Chelsea v Fulham, FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland