Football General Manager
Enzo Maresca is set to embark on his season as Chelsea head coach, aiming to instill his tactical philosophy and rejuvenate the squad ahead of the 2025–26 campaign.
After a mixed season, Maresca will be eager to build momentum and consistency. The upcoming pre-season tour offers a prime opportunity to integrate new signings, refine strategies, and prepare for the challenges ahead.
Here, BALLGM brings you everything you need to know about Chelsea’s pre-season plans for the 2025–26 season.
Enzo Maresca is set to embark on his season as Chelsea head coach, aiming to instill his tactical philosophy and rejuvenate the squad ahead of the 2025–26 campaign.
After a mixed season, Maresca will be eager to build momentum and consistency. The upcoming pre-season tour offers a prime opportunity to integrate new signings, refine strategies, and prepare for the challenges ahead.
Here, BALLGM brings you everything you need to know about Chelsea’s pre-season plans for the 2025–26 season.
Chelsea have confirmed a few of their pre-season fixtures ahead of the 2025-26 season. They had the Club World Cup fixtures to deal with in June 2025.
The Blues faced Los Angeles, Flamengo and ES Tunis in the group stage of the Club World Cup before going on to reach the final. They beat PSG 3-0 in the final to lift the trophy.
Chelsea are set to host the 2025 VisitMalta Weekender at Stamford Bridge in August, welcoming European giants AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen for a two-day pre-season tournament. The action kicks off on Friday, August 8, when Chelsea face Bundesliga runners-up Bayer Leverkusen, led by their new manager Erik ten Hag, fresh from a summer tour in Brazil.
The Blues will then take on AC Milan on Sunday, August 10 at 3 pm, with the Rossoneri returning under the leadership of Massimiliano Allegri, who has rejoined the club after 11 years. These two fixtures will follow Chelsea’s participation in the FIFA Club World Cup, offering fans a final glimpse of the squad in action before the 2025/26 season begins. The club has confirmed that they won’t be going on a pre-season tour this year.
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See Chelsea’s full fixture list
Fans can buy tickets to see Chelsea’s pre-season games through Stub Hub or the club’s official website.
Chelsea’s pre-season matches will be available to fans through various platforms. Supporters can stream matches live on Chelsea TV. Extended highlights and full-match replays will also be accessible post-match.
Select matches may be shown on platforms such as Fubo, Sling, DirecTV Stream, and USA Network in the US.
Watch this space to know how to watch Chelsea’s pre-season games on TV or online when that information is confirmed.
Chelsea will kickstart their 2025-26 Premier League season with a home game against Crystal Palace. The full list of the Blues fixtures is available here.
August 17, 2025, will be the opening day of the league season. Chelsea will be hoping to start the campaign on a winning note.
As of July 2025, Chelsea have yet to officially confirm their full pre-season squad for the upcoming 2025–26 campaign. However, preparations are already underway, and several new signings are part of Enzo Maresca’s plans as the Blues continue their participation at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Among those expected to feature is João Pedro the Brazilian forward signed from Brighton in a deal worth up to £60 million. He has already joined Chelsea’s first-team activities and was involved in their Club World Cup squad. Another fresh addition is Liam Delap who made a high-profile move from Ipswich Town for £30 million. Delap has impressed during his early days at Chelsea and is likely to play a prominent role during pre-season.
Midfield reinforcement comes in the form of Dário Essugo the promising Portuguese teenager from Sporting CP, who has already been involved in Chelsea’s training sessions.
Though the final squad list is still awaited, Chelsea’s pre-season is shaping up to feature a dynamic blend of new signings, young prospects, and key returning players. The integration of these new talents marks the start of a new chapter under Maresca, as the club looks to fine-tune its squad ahead of a demanding 2025–26 campaign.
