Chelsea will play their first pre-season friendly match in preparation for the 2025–2026 season when they host German side Bayer Leverkusen this Friday evening at Stamford Bridge, with kickoff scheduled for 9:00 PM Cairo time.
The match marks the first test for the London side under the leadership of new head coach Enzo Maresca, following their FIFA Club World Cup triumph last June.
It is a highly anticipated occasion to get a glimpse of the team’s form, especially after a busy summer transfer window.
Several new signings are expected to feature against Leverkusen, including Jamie Gittens, Willian Estevão, and Dutch defender Jorrel Hato, who joined from Ajax in a £37 million deal.
Fans are also eager to see João Pedro and Liam Delap make their Stamford Bridge debuts, after both impressed during the Club World Cup—particularly Pedro, who scored three goals in his last two matches of the tournament.
On the other side, Bayer Leverkusen will make their appearance under the guidance of Dutch manager Erik ten Hag, who took over the team following significant technical and administrative changes.
These changes included the departure of several key players such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Granit Xhaka, while the club brought in Mark Flekken, Jarell Quansah, and Malik Tillman.
Additionally, Leverkusen extended the contract of Czech striker Patrik Schick until June 2030, keeping him as a central figure in the club’s long-term project—his previous deal was set to expire in 2027.
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