Newcastle United have been confirmed alongside Manchester City, Wolves and West Ham in this summer’s Premier League Asia Trophy.
It is the ninth edition of the biennial competition and will be played in two venues for the first time – with United set to play in Nanjing and Shanghai in July.
United will be taking part for the second time, having featured in the first edition in 2003.
All four teams will play in a double-header at Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre on Wednesday July 17, and that will be followed by the third and the fourth place playoff and the final, which will both be staged at Shanghai’s Hongkou Stadium on Saturday 20 July.
Newcastle United set to play in China in pre-season tournament
Premier League Interim Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “We are delighted to be bringing the Premier League Asia Trophy to China this summer and playing in both Nanjing and Shanghai will be an exciting experience for the League and our clubs.
“The fans in Asia always offer us an extremely warm welcome and terrific support, and we look forward to seeing them in July.
“In Manchester City we have the reigning Premier League champions competing for the trophy, along with three other excellent clubs in Newcastle United, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“I have no doubt the fans can expect some competitive and thrilling Premier League action.”
It means that Rafa Benitez – if he remains – will be taking the club beyond Europe for the first time in pre-season. Although the manager prefers short-haul training camps the chance to spread the club’s ‘brand’ in Asia is seen as important for the club and there are also appearance fees and prize money for the competition.
Ticket details will be announced soon with the Premier League stressing they will be “affordable” and that local fans will “continue its commitment to ensuring fans can attend matches at affordable prices”.
Newcastle United fans set to appear in documentary - as long away journeys are set for big screen
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