Each Premier League club’s pre-season plans – and what to look out for - The Athletic

The Premier League clubs are preparing for the 2025-26 season with pre-season testing, training, and warm-up friendlies. Clubs face various challenges: integrating new signings, promoted sides adjusting to the higher level, and Chelsea/Manchester City managing fatigue from the Club World Cup. The Athletic outlines each team's pre-season plans leading up to the season start in just over a month.

Arsenal's pre-season fixtures include matches against Milan and Newcastle in Singapore (July 23 & 27), Tottenham in Hong Kong (July 31), and Villarreal and Athletic Club at the Emirates Stadium (August 6 & 9). The main focus will be on new signing Martin Zubimendi integrating into the midfield. Additionally, manager Mikel Arteta has indicated that 15-year-old midfielder Max Dowman may feature on the Far East tour, marking a notable early involvement with the first team despite his age.

Aston Villa, under Unai Emery, has a demanding pre-season schedule of eight fixtures across five countries, including a trip to the USA. Emery values numerous matches to practice tactics and formations with different players. Villa opens pre-season against Walsall at Bescot Stadium (July 16), plays games in Germany and the USA, hosts Roma at Bescot (August 6), and concludes with consecutive away matches against Marseille in France (August 9) and Villarreal in Spain (August 10).