Premier League Summer Series 2025: Teams, Schedule, and Results

Every summer, a handful of Premier League clubs swap their training grounds for American stadiums, and the Premier League Summer Series has quickly become the centerpiece of that trip. This mini-tournament combines serious pre-season sharpness with a chance to win over fans thousands of miles from home.

First held: 2023 ·
Number of editions (as of 2025): 2 ·
Clubs in 2025 edition: 4 ·
Matches in 2025 edition: 6 ·
Host nation: United States

Seven key facts at a glance show the tournament’s scope.

What is the Premier League Summer Series?

The Premier League Summer Series is a pre-season friendly tournament hosted in the United States. First held in 2023, it brings a selection of Premier League clubs to American stadiums for a short, competitive mini-league. The 2025 edition ran from July 26 to August 3 across three US cities (Premier League (official league website)).

The tournament is part of a broader push by the English top flight to grow its fan base in North America. Unlike a typical pre-season friendly, the Summer Series awards a trophy and uses a points-based format that keeps players motivated. It also gives US-based supporters a rare chance to see Premier League action live without crossing the Atlantic.

How does the Premier League Summer Series work?

The series uses a round-robin format where each team plays every other team once. In the 2025 edition, with four clubs, that meant each team played three matches — one in each host city (Premier League (official league website)). Points follow standard Premier League rules: three for a win, one for a draw, zero for a loss. The team with the most points at the end wins the trophy.

Matches are played under normal Premier League laws, but substitutions are freely allowed — typical for pre-season exhibitions. The tournament does not affect the official Premier League standings; it is purely a pre-season competition.

Who qualifies for the Premier League summer series?

Qualification is not based on league performance. Clubs are invited by the Premier League based on commercial and strategic considerations (NBC Sports (US broadcast partner)). Factors include global brand appeal, US market presence, squad availability, and scheduling feasibility. The league aims to rotate clubs across editions to broaden exposure.

How many matches will be played in the summer series?

The 2025 edition featured exactly six matches — each of the four clubs played three times. The schedule was designed so that every team appeared in every host city, giving fans across the country a chance to see each club (Premier League (official league website)).

What teams are in the Premier League Summer Series?

For the 2025 edition, the four participating clubs were Manchester United, West Ham United, Bournemouth, and Everton (NBC Sports (US broadcast partner)). This lineup reflects the league’s selection strategy: a mix of historic global brands (Manchester United), clubs with growing US followings (West Ham), and sides that offer competitive balance.

Previous editions have included clubs like Chelsea, Aston Villa, Newcastle, and others. The league likes to rotate participants to give different fan bases a taste of live action. In 2023, Chelsea lifted the inaugural trophy after topping the table on points.

Team selection is driven by market expansion goals, fan base size in the US, and the clubs’ willingness to travel and commit to the full schedule. The Premier League will likely continue to vary the lineup in future editions.

Is there a trophy for the Premier League Summer Series?

Yes. The Premier League Summer Series awards a trophy to the winner of the tournament. In 2023, Chelsea won the trophy with the highest points from the round-robin matches (Premier League (official league website)). The trophy is symbolic and does not carry the same official recognition as the league title, but it adds competitive edge to what could otherwise feel like a series of friendlies.

In 2025, Manchester United won the title with seven points, finishing ahead of West Ham United (six points), Bournemouth (three points), and Everton (one point) (NBC Sports (US broadcast partner)).

Who qualifies for the Premier League summer series?

As noted earlier, qualification is purely at the invitation of the Premier League. There is no promotion, relegation, or seasonal qualification based on league position. The league selects clubs that it believes will maximize commercial returns and fan engagement in the US market (NBC Sports (US broadcast partner)).

Key criteria include the size of a club’s US fan base, the club’s willingness to participate, and whether the club can integrate the tour into its pre-season schedule without disrupting other commitments. The Premier League has indicated it wants to cycle through different clubs over multiple editions so that a broad range of supporters can experience the event.

The trade-off: smaller clubs with less global recognition may be passed over in favor of name brands, even if they’re riding high in the league table. That’s the nature of a commercial tour.

One look at the tournament plan reveals a compact but packed schedule that tested each club’s travel and recovery logistics.

“The Premier League Summer Series gives us a chance to connect with our growing fan base in the United States and provides valuable pre-season preparation,” said a Premier League spokesperson.

NBCUniversal (media parent company)

“Pre-season tours like this are crucial for building team chemistry and testing our tactics against strong opponents in a competitive environment,” said one club manager involved in the 2025 series.

NBC Sports (US broadcast partner)

The 2025 Premier League Summer Series has now concluded, but its impact extends beyond the final standings. For the Premier League, the event is a proving ground for its US expansion. For the clubs, it’s a chance to build momentum heading into the domestic season. AFC Bournemouth, one of the participants, will look to carry their positive moments into the new campaign, while Manchester United will hope the Summer Series victory is a springboard for silverware. For US fans, the decision is clear: mark your calendars for next summer, or risk missing the only chance to see Premier League teams live on home soil without a flight to London.