The Blues have already announced games in the US against Club America, Charlotte FC and Arsenal (tickets available here), and will now resume the on-field action back in Europe when we take on the Serie A side ahead of the start of the 2022/23 campaign.

The match against Udinese will be played on Friday 29 July, with kick-off at 8pm UK time (9pm local time), at their 25,000-seater Dacia Arena home, which previously hosted three matches at the 1990 World Cup under its earlier name Stadio Friuli and is now considered one of the most modern and environmentally friendly stadiums in Italy.

We played Udinese there in a pre-season match in August 2001, 1-1 the final score with the Blues goal a Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink header from a Gianfranco Zola cross, although Hasselbaink was also sent off along with one of the home team’s players.

Udinese, also known as the Zebrette – or little zebras – due to their black and white-striped shirts, will provide top-flight European opposition as Chelsea continue our pre-season preparations, having been ever-present in Serie A since 1995, finishing 12th last term.

Further information on tickets for supporters wishing to attend the match in Italy will be announced shortly.