Chelsea's 2025/26 Pre-Season Schedule

Chelsea’s 2025/26 Pre-Season Schedule: A Quick Turnaround After Historic Campaign

With Chelsea’s 2024/25 season now concluded, the players and staff will enjoy a brief but well-earned break. Enzo Maresca’s squad has played 64 matches across all competitions, finishing fourth in the Premier League and lifting both the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Despite the triumphs, rest time is limited. Players will return to Cobham in the week commencing August 4, with Maresca already voicing concerns about the short off-season. “Probably there is no time for pre-season,” the manager warned in May. “You need to give them recovery. You need to give them some days off, otherwise it’s impossible for them to perform in the right way.”

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Once back, Chelsea’s preparations will begin immediately. The club has confirmed the 2025 VisitMalta Weekender — a pre-season mini-tournament at Stamford Bridge — as their primary tune-up event.

Pre-Season Fixtures:

Chelsea vs Bayer Leverkusen
Friday, August 8 – 7:00 PM (Stamford Bridge)
Chelsea vs AC Milan
Sunday, August 10 – 3:00 PM (Stamford Bridge)

Club commercial president Todd Kline described the tournament as an “ideal way to conclude pre-season,” highlighting the competitive quality of the opponents and the rollout of digital ticketing at Stamford Bridge.

Upcoming Premier League Fixtures:

Crystal Palace (H) – Sunday, August 17
West Ham (A) – Friday, August 22
Fulham (H) – Saturday, August 30

Also read: Chelsea Unveil 2025/26 Premier League Fixture List During Club World Cup Pursuit

Chelsea’s 2025/26 campaign will start just seven days after the AC Milan match. With rivals like Liverpool and Arsenal likely further along in fitness preparation, Maresca and his team will aim to hit the ground running once again.

Chelsea’s 2025/26 Pre-Season Schedule: A Quick Turnaround After Historic Campaign