Chelsea confirm initial traveling squad for preseason tour

This summer has absolutely flown by thanks to the World Cup, and we’re now less than month away from the start of the new Premier League season. I know!

That means it’s also time for the team’s preseason preparations to start truly ramping up, and in modern times, that means it’s time for the preseason tour. This year, for the first time in over a decade, we’re heading to Southeast Asia and Australia, with games scheduled in Sydney, Hong Kong, and Jakarta, and in Iskandar Puteri on the southern tip of Malaysia, just on the other side from Singapore. (We will also have a sixth friendly after we get back home, against Real Sociedad at the Bridge on August 15.)

• vs. Western Sydney Wanderers — Tuesday 28 July — Accor Stadium, Sydney, Australia

• vs. Tottenham Hotspur — Saturday 1 August — Accor Stadium, Sydney, Australia

• vs. Juventus — Wednesday 5 August — Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong

• vs. AC Milan — Saturday 8 August — GBK Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia

• vs. JDT — Tuesday 11 August — Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri, Malaysia

vs. Western Sydney Wanderers — Tuesday 28 July — Accor Stadium, Sydney, Australia

vs. Tottenham Hotspur — Saturday 1 August — Accor Stadium, Sydney, Australia

vs. Juventus — Wednesday 5 August — Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong

vs. AC Milan — Saturday 8 August — GBK Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia

vs. JDT — Tuesday 11 August — Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri, Malaysia

Given that we had several players involved in the latter stages of the World Cup who will only rejoin the team in a few weeks after the well deserved holidays, the initial traveling squad, confirmed to be 27-strong by the official website, is a mix of first-teamers, youth players, and players who might be heading out on loan before the summer’s over. (UPDATE: It is now 28-strong, with the late addition of youngster Calvin Diakite.)

Unfortunately, both Geovany Quenda (fitness) and Emmanuel Emegha (hamstring) will miss the start of the tour with minor injuries. They are expected to join later if able.

Trevoh Chalobah, Axel Disasi, and Benoit Badiashile are among the more notable names not traveling due to possible transfers; Nicolas Jackson is expected to join however.

MIDFIELDERS: Landon Emenalo, Dário Essugo, Roméo Lavia, Madhi Nicoll-Jazuli, Reggie Walsh, Reggie Watson