Aston Villa are heading to the United States of America in 2023 for their first pre-season tour under Unai Emery. So, here is everything you need to know about the Villans’ summer plans.
The Birmingham outfit are set for a possibly hectic schedule in 2023/24 with over 50 fixtures potentially on the cards. Emery has taken Aston Villa back into Europe for the first time since 2010. They will play a two-legged play-off for the Europa Conference League in late August.
Add in 38 Premier League games on top of any FA Cup and EFL Cup ties and Emery will need Aston Villa’s first-team squad fighting fit from the start. So, he has arranged six friendlies for the summer. And here is everything you need to know about Aston Villa’s pre-season tour…
When does Aston Villa’s pre-season start?
Emery ordered the Aston Villa first-team squad to return to their Bodymoor Heath training ground on July 8 to start their pre-season tests. The Villa players who were on international duty in June did not report back, though, as Emery planned for their first friendly on July 15.
Aston Villa’s fixture list for their 2023 pre-season
As of June 21, Aston Villa have confirmed six friendlies for the summer of 2023, with three a part of their tour of the USA. The Villa Park natives are heading across the pond to feature in the first edition of the Premier League Summer Series and will meet fellow top-flight teams.
Aston Villa start their pre-season plans in 2023 on more familiar ground with a trip to League Two outfit Walsall. Emery’s team will also return to the Poundland Bescot Stadium in August to take on Serie A side, Lazio. Aston Villa will not play any pre-season friendlies at Villa Park.
READ MORE: All Aston Villa confirmed signings and transfers out in 2023/24
The Birmingham outfit had to seek an alternative venue for their penultimate friendly of the summer due to Villa Park hosting concerts and a number of other events. So, the Poundland Bescot Stadium will be the only ground in England where fans can see Aston Villa’s friendlies.
Between their trips to Walsall, Aston Villa will contest the inaugural Premier League Summer Series in Philadelphia, Orlando and Maryland. The series sees Premier League teams playing against each other in America. Aston Villa will face Newcastle United, Fulham and Brentford.
Newcastle beat Aston Villa 4-0 at St James’ Park when the two met in the Premier League in October. But the Villans took revenge with a 3-0 win at Villa Park in April. Aston Villa also lost 3-0 at Fulham in Steven Gerrard’s final fixture in charge but beat the Cottagers 1-0 at home.
Brentford would meet Aston Villa just three days after the Villans sacked Gerrard in October. But Aaron Danks took a 4-0 win over the Bees during his brief spell as the Birmingham club’s interim head coach. Emery would only oversee a 1-1 draw with Thomas Frank’s side in April.
Aston Villa will conclude their pre-season plans in 2023 back in Europe with matches against Lazio and Valencia. After hosting the Serie A squad in Walsall, the Villans are back on a plane as they head to Spain to face the La Liga side a week before the new Premier League season.
- July 15, 13:00 BST: Walsall vs Aston Villa, Poundland Bescot Stadium, Walsall
- July 23, 00:00 BST: Aston Villa v Newcastle, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
- July 27, 00:00 BST: Aston Villa v Fulham, Exploria Stadium, Orlando
- July 30, 17:00 BST: Aston Villa v Brentford FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland
- August 3, 19:45 BST: Aston Villa v Lazio, Poundland Bescot Stadium, Walsall
- August 5, 20:00 BST: Valencia v Aston Villa, Mestalla Stadium, Valencia
How to watch Aston Villa’s 2023 pre-season fixtures
Aston Villa have confirmed that fans in the UK can watch their pre-season friendlies against Walsall, Lazio and Valencia via the club’s in-house media, VillaTV. While Sky Sports has live TV rights for the Premier League Summer Series ties with Newcastle, Fulham and Brentford.
Tickets for Aston Villa’s summer schedule
Aston Villa have announced all details regarding tickets for their six pre-season friendlies for 2023. But the Birmingham outfit also sold out their full allocation of tickets against Walsall.
Those who buy tickets for Aston Villa’s pre-season friendlies against Newcastle and Brentford even get two games for the price of one. Fulham also face Brentford at Lincoln Financial Field before the Villans face the Toon. While the Cottagers also meet rivals Chelsea at FedEx Field.
- Walsall: Sold out
- Newcastle United: (buy here)
- Fulham: (buy here)
- Brentford: (buy here)
- Lazio: July 10, 17:00 to July 11, 10:00 – 2023/24 Season Ticket Holders (buy here)
- Lazio: July 17, 17:00 to July 18, 10:00 – Official club members
- Lazio: July 24, 17:00 to July 25, 10:00 – General sale
- Valencia: General sale (buy here)
