Chelsea 2018-19 season: Fixtures, transfers, squad numbers & complete Premier League schedule

Chelsea returned to the Asia-Pacific region with a fixture against Perth Glory in Australia to get their preparations for the 2018-19 campaign under way.

The Blues then faced some of Europe's biggest clubs as part of the International Champions Cup in a number of venues around the continent.

With the World Cup having ended just eight days before their first fixture against Perth, it left Chelsea with very little time to fully prepare – though it did give players the opportunity to get back into the fold in an energising manner.

Goal brings you your complete guide to the Blues' 2018-19 pre-season and Premier League fixtures, with dates, venues and all you need to know about the preparations.

Chelsea pre-season fixtures

*2018 Community Shield

Chelsea's pre-season schedule involved some entertaining clashes, including an exciting match against Premier League rivals Arsenal, as well as European giants Inter, with Lyon still to come.

While the likes of fellow Premier League sides Manchester United and Liverpool playing in North America, Chelsea will instead be heading down under and to Europe.

The first game of their pre-season tour saw them play Perth Glory in a 60,000-seater stadium on July 23 at Optus Stadium in an Australia-exclusive friendly.

Goal's Josh Thomas sat down with Chelsea youngsters Tammy Abraham and Kasey Palmer  to discuss their hopes of breaking into the first team this season ahead of the match.

The west London side headed to Europe to begin their International Champions Cup campaign against Inter at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, winning through penalties, before falling in to Arsenal in a shootout at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin shortly after.

They concluded their pre-season preparation with a shootout win in home friendly against Lyon, having lost 2-0 to Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley.

Chelsea 2018-19 squad numbers

Chelsea's 2018-19 transfer activity

Chelsea recently announced the dismissal of manager Antonio Conte after two years in charge of the club with confirmation that ex-Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri is to assume duties as head coach. 

Sarri brought midfielder Jorginho along with him to Stamford Bridge for a fee of €57 million (£51m/$66m), which marked Chelsea's first big signing in the transfer window.

The Blues dipped into the transfer market again, making a world-record goalkeeper signing in the form of £72 million (€80m/$92m) Kepa Arrizabalaga as Real Madrid landed Belgium international Thibaut Courtois off the back of a successful World Cup.

Transfer activity in

Transfer activity out

Chelsea's 2018-19 Premier League fixtures

The Premier League has confirmed that the 2018-19 season will get under way on Saturday August 11.

Fixtures were released early in the morning of June 14 and Chelsea will kick off their campaign with an away game against Huddersfield Town before hosting rivals Arsenal in their first London derby of the season the following week. Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Cardiff City complete the Blues' opening five games of the season.

Liverpool and Manchester United visit Stamford Bridge on September 29 and October 20 respectively, while champions Manchester City pay their first visit to the venue on December 8.

Chelsea's full Premier League fixture list can be seen below.