Chelsea Confirm Travel Plans For United States Pre-Season Tour Ahead Of Club America Opener On 16 July

Chelsea have confirmed their travel plans for their United States pre-season tour, which will open with a match against Club America on 16 July.

The Blues will be heading into their summer arrangements off the back of a solid season, in which they won the Super Cup and the Club World Cup in a turbulent campaign.

Thomas Tuchel’s side will now already be looking ahead to the start of a new season, which is commencing earlier than usual due to the World Cup taking place in Qatar later on this year.

Pre-season will give the squad a chance to regain match fitness and begin preparations for a new campaign at Stamford Bridge, with the club setting their sights on the Premier League title.

It was confirmed earlier in the year that they would be making a trip across the pond for pre-season, but now other details of their schedule have been revealed.

The Blues will travel to the USA on the 9 July and return on the 23rd, therefore spending two weeks on tour.

Chelsea’s first fixture will be against Club America in Las Vegas a week after they arrive, before they face Charlotte FC in Charlotte on the 20th.

They will then conclude their tour with a match in Orlando against London and Premier League rivals Arsenal, before travelling back to London to complete their preparations for the new season.

Some of the squad have already returned to Cobham for the start of pre-season, with a mix of first team members and loanees reuniting at the training ground.

The likes of Ben Chilwell, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Hakim Ziyech and Kepa Arrizabalaga have now begun their preparation for the start of the new campaign, with the squad setting off for the USA in a week's time.

While Tuchel already has a large squad at his disposal for their pre-season tour, there could soon be changes as the club looks to operate in the transfer market.

Raheem Sterling is thought to be close to sealing a move to Chelsea this summer, joining from Manchester City after seven years at the Etihad Stadium.

Nathan Ake could make a return to the Blues from the same club, having left Stamford Bridge on a permanent deal back in 2017.

Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt has been identified as another target for the centre-back position, with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen both leaving for pastures new this summer.