The summer pre‑season schedule for all twenty Premier League sides has now come to an end, and the clubs are gearing up for the competitive campaign that kicks off on 21 August. Below is a comprehensive recap of each team’s friendlies, tournament appearances and notable performances, presented in a fresh narrative that captures the key moments while adding context for readers who want a deeper understanding of how the clubs have prepared for the new season. Arsenal concluded their preparatory phase with a series of high‑profile fixtures.
After a comfortable 3‑0 win over MK Dons at their training ground on 25 July, the Gunners travelled to Spain for a 4‑1 victory against Girona on 1 August. The next week saw a 3‑1 loss to Real Betis in Dublin, followed by a narrow 3‑2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund back at the Emirates on 9 August. A dramatic penalty shoot‑out saw Arsenal edge Como 4‑3 after a 1‑1 draw on 12 August, and the season’s first silverware arrived when they beat Manchester City 3‑0 in the Community Shield at Cardiff on 16 August. These matches highlighted a blend of attacking flair and defensive solidity that Arsenal hope to carry into the league.
Aston Villa’s summer itinerary was equally globe‑trotting. The club opened with a 5‑0 thrashing of Walsall at the Bescot Stadium’s Pallet‑Track on 21 July, then suffered a 2‑1 loss to Porto in Portugal on 25 July. A high‑scoring 4‑2 defeat to Real Sociedad followed on 28 July, before the Villa side travelled to Jakarta for a 3‑1 win over an Indonesia All‑Stars side on 1 August.
Further fixtures in Thailand and Hong Kong saw Villa lose narrowly to Bayern Munich (1‑2) and fall 1‑2 to PSG in the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg on 12 August. The Villa campaign wrapped up with a 2‑1 loss to Borussia Mönchengladbach on 15 August, giving the team a mixed bag of results to analyse. Bournemouth’s pre‑season featured a mix of domestic and continental opposition.
After a 4‑1 win over St Pauli on 24 July, the Cherries posted a 5‑2 victory against Augsburg on 30 July and a staggering 10‑1 rout of Genoa behind closed doors on 4 August. Subsequent draws against Real Betis (2‑2) and a 2‑1 win over Mainz on 15 August rounded off a busy schedule that offered plenty of attacking practice for the squad. Brentford’s preparation was more low‑key but effective. The club opened with a 3‑2 win over AFC Wimbledon behind closed doors on 15 July, then travelled to France for a 4‑2 victory against Rennes on 8 August.
The highlight came on 15 August when Brentford demolished Eintracht Frankfurt 7‑0 at the Gtech Community Stadium, a performance that underscored the team’s offensive potential. Brighton & Hove Albion embarked on a European‑focused tour. Starting with a 4‑1 win over Wycombe at their training ground on 18 July, they then faced Annecy in France on 25 July before a 4‑3 away win against Strasbourg on 1 August in Austria. A 3‑0 triumph over Roma at the Amex on 8 August and a 1‑0 victory over Bologna on 15 August completed a series of matches that showcased Brighton’s ability to adapt to different styles of play.
Chelsea’s summer was packed with matches across three continents. After a 6‑4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers in Sydney on 28 July, the Blues suffered a 2‑1 loss to Tottenham in the same city on 1 August, followed by a 1‑0 defeat to Juventus in Hong Kong on 5 August. They bounced back with a 3‑0 win over AC Milan in Jakarta on 8 August and a 3‑3 draw with Johor Darul Ta'zim on 9 August.
The final friendly, a 3‑1 victory over Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on 15 August, gave the team a confidence boost ahead of the Premier League opener. Coventry City’s schedule was shorter but included a mix of domestic and European opponents.
After a 3‑2 win over AFC Wimbledon behind closed doors on 11 July, they drew 0‑0 with Northampton on 18 July before a 3‑1 win over Espanyol in Coventry on 8 August. A 2‑0 victory against Monaco at the Coventry Building Society Arena on 14 August capped their preparation. Crystal Palace’s pre‑season featured a series of short‑format games. They opened with a 5‑1 win over Swindon at their training ground on 18 July, then suffered a 3‑0 loss to Lens on 28 July and a 0‑0 draw with Famalicão the same day, both 45‑minute fixtures.
A 3‑1 win over Al Ula on 31 July and a 2‑0 loss to Freiburg in the Europa‑Park Stadion on 15 August were the final matches before the season. Everton travelled widely, beginning with a 4‑0 win over Dundee at Dens Park on 18 July. Subsequent fixtures included a 0‑0 draw with Bolton, a 1‑0 loss to Stoke, a 2‑1 defeat in Hamburg, a 3‑1 loss to Stuttgart, a 3‑1 win over Newcastle at Murrayfield, and a 1‑1 draw with Lille on 15 August. These games gave the Toffees a balanced view of their defensive and attacking options.
Fulham’s summer featured a 1‑1 draw with Al Ahli in Portugal on 28 July, a 2‑1 loss to Crystal Palace at their training ground on 7 August, and a 1‑0 victory over Stuttgart at Craven Cottage on 15 August, providing a solid foundation for the London side. Hull City’s itinerary spanned Slovenia, Turkey and Italy.
They beat Konyaspor 3‑0 in Slovenia on 25 July, edged Çaykur Rizespor 2‑1 three days later, drew 1‑1 with Kasımpaşa in Istanbul on 1 August, lost 2‑0 to Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany on 8 August, and finished with a goalless draw against Nice at the MKM Stadium on 15 August. Ipswich Town enjoyed a busy July‑August period, beginning with a 2‑1 loss to Osasuna in Colchester, then a series of wins over Oxford, Wycombe, Le Havre, Rayo Vallecano and Union Berlin, culminating in a 4‑2 victory at the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei on 15 August. Leeds United’s pre‑season was a whirlwind of transatlantic travel.
After a 3‑2 loss to Wrexham on 26 July, they beat Sunderland 1‑0 in New Jersey on 31 July, thrashed Liverpool 4‑2 in Chicago on 2 August, and secured a 2‑0 win over RB Leipzig at Elland Road on 8 August in a 120‑minute showcase. A penalty shoot‑out win over Manchester United (4‑5) in Dublin on 12 August and a 4‑0 triumph over Augsburg on 15 August rounded out their preparation.
Liverpool’s summer featured high‑profile matches in the United States. They opened with a 4‑2 win over Sunderland in Nashville on 25 July, followed by a 1‑0 victory over Wrexham in New York on 30 July.
After a 4‑2 win over Leeds in Chicago on 2 August, they suffered a 3‑2 loss to Monaco at Anfield on 9 August and finished with a 2‑0 win over Como on 16 August. Manchester City’s pre‑season highlighted their global brand.
They drew 1‑1 with Inter Milan in Hong Kong on 1 August, lost 1‑3 to a K‑League All‑Stars side in Seoul on 5 August, then beat Atletico Madrid 3‑1 in Seoul on 9 August. The season officially began for them with a 3‑0 Community Shield win over Arsenal in Cardiff on 16 August. Manchester United’s schedule included a surprise 1‑0 loss to Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July, a 5‑0 win over Rosenborg in Trondheim, a 2‑1 victory over Atletico Madrid in Stockholm, a 1‑1 draw with PSG in Gothenburg, a penalty shoot‑out win over Leeds (4‑5) on 12 August, and a 4‑2 defeat to AC Milan in Wroclaw on 15 August.
Newcastle United’s preparation featured a mix of lower‑league and European opposition. After a 3‑0 win over Darlington behind closed doors, they drew 1‑1 with Gateshead, thrashed Bristol City 4‑1, lost 2‑1 to Valencia, beat Everton 3‑1 at Murrayfield, fell 2‑1 to Bayer Leverkusen, and drew 1‑1 with Strasbourg, giving the Magpies a varied set of challenges.
Nottingham Forest’s summer saw them travel to Portugal and Italy. They opened with a 2‑0 win over Notts County, then beat Blackburn 3‑0, drew 1‑1 with Vitoria, won 2‑1 against Sporting in the Algarve, and secured a 2‑1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen at the City Ground, before ending with a 2‑0 win over Brest. Sunderland’s pre‑season featured a 5‑1 loss to York City, a 4‑2 loss to Liverpool in Nashville, a 1‑0 win over Leeds in New Jersey, a 1‑0 win over Wrexham in Philadelphia, a 4‑1 loss to Lens in a closed‑door training session, a 2‑0 win over Lens at Stade Bollaert‑Delelis, and a 2‑1 victory over Rennes at the Stadium of Light. Tottenham Hotspur’s preparation included a 1‑0 win over MK Dons at their training ground, a 2‑0 victory over Auckland FC, a 1‑1 draw with Sydney FC (winning 4‑2 on penalties), a 2‑1 win over Chelsea in Sydney, a 1‑1 draw with Getafe behind closed doors, a 3‑0 win over Hoffenheim at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and a 2‑2 draw with Hoffenheim at the training ground.
Sky Sports highlighted its extensive coverage plans, promising over 1,500 live matches across the Premier League, Women’s Super League, EFL and Scottish Premiership for the 2026/27 season, with a minimum of 215 Premier League games broadcast live. Subscribers will be able to stream every match via the Sky Sports app, while non‑subscribers are encouraged to upgrade or consider NOW TV for flexible, contract‑free options. Key dates to remember: the Premier League season launches on 21 August, the Champions League group‑stage draw follows on 27 August, the group‑stage runs from 8‑10 September, the FA Cup third round begins on 9 January, the Champions League knockout phase starts on 16 February, the Carabao Cup final is set for 21 March, the Premier League concludes on 30 May, and the Champions League final will be staged at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid on 5 June. Fans can also take part in the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £1 million, with free entry available.