The Premier League is exploring the possibility of organizing a four-club Summer Series in Asia next year.
While no definitive plans have been established, reports indicate that clubs have been consulted for their opinions, with Hong Kong and the nearby Chinese city of Shenzhen identified as potential locations.
Since 2003, the Premier League has hosted a biennial pre-season tournament.
It took place in the Far East until 2019, then was paused in 2021 due to COVID-19, before being rebranded as the Summer Series in 2023, which was held in the United States.
The latest event occurred this summer in New York, Chicago, and Atlanta.
This upcoming series would mark the first time it coincides with a summer featuring a major international tournament, raising concerns about player workload.
The global players’ union, Fifpro, noted that Liverpool and Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo participated in 71 competitive matches for both club and country in 2024, more than any other player.
The number of matches has risen in recent seasons due to the expansion of European club and international tournaments.
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The upcoming summer World Cup will be the first to include 48 teams, with the final scheduled for July 19.
The Premier League has confirmed that the 2026-27 season will not commence until August 22.
In theory, this could allow for a three-match Summer Series to take place between August 1 and 8, providing a two-week recovery period, similar to what was given to United, Everton, Bournemouth, and West Ham this summer.
This arrangement could be seen as a step to enable any player whose national team is eliminated in the last 16 of the World Cup to have a mandatory three-week break before returning for pre-season training nearly a week before the Summer Series.
