Justin Hart of Morton, a member of The 309 soccer fan club, sports a Manchester United F.C. flag as he watches the Peoria City USL 2 team battle the Des Moines Menace on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at Shea Stadium in Peoria. Manchester United is a popular soccer team in the top-tier English Premier League.

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Key Dates for Premier League Clubs This Summer: Premier League Summer Series, Transfer Window, and More

This summer promises to be a busy one for Premier League clubs as they prepare for the 2025/26 campaign. While there’s no major men’s international tournament, clubs are still set for a whirlwind period of pre-season tours, transfer activity, and the much-anticipated return of domestic and European competition.

Here’s a breakdown of the crucial dates that will shape the summer and early part of the new season.

When Does Premier League Summer Series Start?

The Premier League Summer Series, a growing pre-season tradition, kicks off on 26 July in the United States. Clubs including AFC Bournemouth, Everton, Manchester United, and West Ham United will participate in friendly fixtures across cities like New Jersey, Chicago, and Atlanta, with the tournament wrapping up on 3 August.

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This tour not only offers international fans a chance to see their clubs live but also serves as a key period for tactical fine-tuning and integrating new signings.

Before that, most clubs will resume pre-season training in the week beginning 1 July, although clubs involved in the FIFA Club World Cup may return slightly later.

Additionally, the FA Community Shield, which marks the traditional curtain-raiser to the English football season, is expected to be played in early August at Wembley. This year, Crystal Palace will make their first-ever appearance in the fixture, facing Premier League champions Liverpool.

Summer Transfer Window

The summer transfer window officially opened in two phases. The first was a short early window from 1–10 June, where deals like Matheus Cunha’s move to Manchester United were finalized.

The main window reopened on 16 June and will run until 1 September at 19:00 BST—four hours earlier than previous deadlines. Clubs will look to strengthen squads during this window with both big-money signings and strategic sales.

Key announcements such as fixture release day (18 June at 09:00 BST) have already provided fans with early excitement, while clubs promoted from the Championship — Burnley, Leeds United, and Sunderland — prepare for their Premier League return.

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When Does the 2025-26 Season Begin and Key Dates

The 2025/26 Premier League season officially begins on Saturday, 16 August. Before that, here are some vital milestones:

15 June: Start of the 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. featuring Chelsea and Man City.
21 August & 28 August: UEFA Conference League play-off round, where Nottingham Forest makes its European return.
28 August: Champions League draw for six Premier League teams including Liverpool and Arsenal.
29 August: Europa League draw, with Aston Villa and Palace learning their opponents.