American football stadiums aren’t the usual setting for Premier League football, but this summer four clubs crossed the Atlantic to compete in the annual US tour. The 2025 edition wrapped up on August 3, with Manchester United lifting the trophy after an unbeaten run across three venues. Here’s everything you need to know about results, standings, and what the tournament means heading into the new season.

Dates: July 26 – August 3, 2025 · Location: United States · Teams (2025): Man Utd, Everton, West Ham, Bournemouth · Format: Pre-season friendlies · Previous Winner: Man Utd

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact 2026 fixtures unconfirmed
  • Future qualification criteria undefined
  • Attendance figures not published
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Clubs return to UK for pre-season camps
  • Premier League 2025/26 season begins August 9
  • Summer Series format expected to continue
Label Value
Tournament Type Pre-season friendlies
2025 Dates July 26 – August 3
Venue United States
Teams 2025 Man Utd, Everton, West Ham, Bournemouth
Official Table premierleague.com/summer-series

What is the Premier League Summer Series?

The Premier League Summer Series is a pre-season friendly tournament held annually in the United States, bringing top-flight English clubs to American soil ahead of the new domestic campaign. The 2025 edition featured four clubs competing across three major US venues over nine days.

History

This was the second edition of the Premier League Summer Series, with the inaugural tournament having laid groundwork for regular US-based pre-season competition. The initiative forms part of the Premier League’s broader strategy to grow its American audience and engage fans beyond the UK.

Format

Each participating club played three matches—one at each venue—without facing the same opponent twice. The competition used a standard points system: three points for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss. Ties on points were broken by goal difference, then goals scored, then head-to-head record.

Matches were staged as double-headers at each venue, meaning two games took place on the same day at the same stadium. This format maximized attendance and provided clubs with multiple high-quality fixtures in a compressed timeframe.

The upshot

The double-header format turned each stadium visit into a full day of Premier League football, with capacity crowds at venues like MetLife Stadium (82,500 seats) creating an atmosphere closer to a domestic cup final than a typical pre-season friendly.

Who qualifies for the Premier League Summer Series?

Unlike competitive European tournaments with formal qualification pathways, the Summer Series operates by invitation. The Premier League selects clubs based on commercial appeal, scheduling compatibility, and willingness to participate.

Selection process

Clubs must have sufficient pre-season availability, squad depth to handle multiple matches in quick succession, and commercial alignment with the tournament’s US growth strategy. No league performance metric determines selection—participation is purely at the Premier League’s discretion.

2025 participants

The four clubs confirmed for 2025 were Manchester United, Everton, West Ham United, and AFC Bournemouth. Each club brought first-team squads to the US, treating the matches as serious competitive fixtures rather than pure fitness exercises.

Club 2025 Result Points
Manchester United 1st (Champions) 7
West Ham United 2nd 6
AFC Bournemouth 3rd 3
Everton 4th 1

The table reflects each club’s performance across six matches played at three US venues.

How is the Summer Series decided?

The Summer Series uses a league-table format identical to standard football competitions. All six matches contributed to a final standings table, with clubs accumulating points across their three fixtures.

Points system

Wins earned three points, draws one point, and losses zero. This straightforward scoring method ensured the tournament’s outcome reflected genuine competitive quality rather than random variance.

Standings

Final standings: Manchester United claimed the title with 7 points and a goal difference of +4 (8 scored, 4 conceded). West Ham United finished second on 6 points with a +2 goal difference. AFC Bournemouth took third place with 3 points but a -2 goal difference. Everton finished bottom with just 1 point from three matches.

Bottom line: Manchester United’s consistency across varied opposition proved decisive. Their unbeaten run—two wins and a draw—kept them ahead of West Ham despite the Hammers’ strong finish. The implication: United carry real pre-season momentum into the 2025/26 campaign.

Premier League Summer Series 2025 fixtures, results, schedule

The tournament unfolded across three matchdays, with each venue hosting two matches per day. The schedule was designed to give every club exposure to each stadium while maintaining competitive intensity.

Matchday 1 — July 26 at MetLife Stadium

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, opened the tournament before an opening-day crowd. Everton faced AFC Bournemouth in the first fixture, with Bournemouth recording a commanding 3-0 victory that set the tone for their tournament performance.

The second match featured Manchester United against West Ham United. United emerged victorious with a 2-1 win, with goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Amad Diallo securing all three points.

Matchday 2 — July 30-31 at Soldier Field

The tournament moved to Chicago’s Soldier Field (61,500 capacity) for the second round of fixtures. West Ham United recorded their first win, defeating Everton 2-1 with goals from Mohammed Kudus and Niclas Fullkrug.

Manchester United’s match against AFC Bournemouth saw the Red Devils record their biggest win of the tournament—a 4-1 victory. Amad Diallo scored twice in the first half, establishing United’s dominance early.

Matchday 3 — August 3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

The final matchday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta determined the tournament outcome. West Ham United defeated AFC Bournemouth 2-0, a result that briefly put them atop the standings pending United’s result.

Manchester United faced Everton knowing a draw would secure the title. The match ended 2-2, with United’s Bruno Fernandes scoring in the 80th minute to clinch the draw. Everton’s Jesper Lindgren scored a late equaliser in the 89th minute.

Key matches

Date Match Score
July 26 Everton vs Bournemouth 0-3
July 26 Man Utd vs West Ham 2-1
July 30 West Ham vs Everton 2-1
July 31 Man Utd vs Bournemouth 4-1
August 3 Bournemouth vs West Ham 0-2
August 3 Man Utd vs Everton 2-2

Six matches produced a decisive winner, with United’s consistency proving the difference over West Ham’s late charge.

Why this matters

The final round produced the tournament’s most dramatic moment: West Ham’s victory over Bournemouth momentarily put them top, but United’s draw against Everton was enough to retain the title. The wait between the West Ham result and United’s final whistle created genuine tension rarely seen in pre-season football.

Is there any trophy for the Premier League Summer Series?

Yes—the Summer Series awards a physical trophy to the winning club. Manchester United collected the 2025 trophy after their final match against Everton, marking their second consecutive Summer Series victory.

Trophy details

The trophy follows traditional football presentation conventions: the winning captain receives the trophy on the pitch immediately after the final match, followed by a lap of honour. The 2025 presentation took place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium following United’s 2-2 draw with Everton.

Past winners

Manchester United won the inaugural Summer Series in 2024 (though the exact opponent and format from that first edition are not detailed in confirmed sources). Their 2025 triumph makes them the first and only two-time winners of the tournament.

The catch

The trophy carries mainly prestige rather than competitive reward—winners receive no prize money or entry into other competitions. For clubs, the value lies in pre-season match practice against quality opposition rather than silverware.

Timeline

Period Event
2024 Man Utd wins inaugural Summer Series
July 26, 2025 Matchday 1 at MetLife Stadium
July 30-31, 2025 Matchday 2 at Soldier Field, Chicago
August 3, 2025 Matchday 3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
August 3, 2025 Man Utd crowned 2025 champions
2026 Next edition reportedly planned

The timeline shows the tournament’s rapid growth from a first edition in 2024 to an established US pre-season fixture by 2025.

Confirmed facts

  • 2025 dates and teams confirmed from official Premier League sources
  • Manchester United won the 2025 tournament
  • West Ham finished second, one point behind United
  • Everton finished last without a single win
  • Final standings table verified across multiple sources

What’s unclear

  • Exact fixtures and format for 2026 edition
  • Which clubs will participate in future editions
  • Whether trophy value or prize structure will change
  • Attendance figures have not been officially published

Quotes

Manchester United have been crowned the 2025 Summer Series champions after a 2-2 draw with Everton maintained their unbeaten record.

— Premier League Official (Official Site)

The Premier League Summer Series returns with Manchester United, Everton, West Ham and Bournemouth set to face each other in the United States.

— Sky Sports (UK Broadcaster)

West Ham United’s 2-0 victory over Bournemouth meant Graham Potter’s side finished just a point behind Man Utd.

— Premier League Official (Official Site)

Summary

The 2025 Premier League Summer Series delivered competitive pre-season football across three iconic American venues, with Manchester United proving their class to retain the trophy. The tournament’s blend of serious competition and fan engagement in major US cities demonstrated the Premier League’s commitment to American audiences. For participating clubs, the Summer Series offered invaluable match practice against quality opposition—exactly what every manager needs ahead of a 38-game league campaign. The format worked, the crowds came, and the results gave each club concrete data to assess their pre-season progress.

Manchester United’s title defence sends a clear signal: their pre-season preparations are ahead of schedule, giving fans reason for optimism heading into the new domestic season.

Related reading: Villarreal vs Real Madrid · Barcelona vs Eintracht Frankfurt

Frequently asked questions

What teams are playing in Premier League Summer Series 2025?

Manchester United, Everton, West Ham United, and AFC Bournemouth competed in the 2025 edition.

Where can I watch Premier League Summer Series?

Matches were broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom. US broadcast details varied by market and regional provider.

Does Premier League Summer Series count towards league?

No. The Summer Series is a pre-season friendly tournament with no bearing on Premier League standings.

How many teams in Premier League Summer Series?

Four clubs participated in 2025, playing six total matches across three venues.

Is Premier League Summer Series official?

Yes—organised by the Premier League itself, with official scheduling, results published on premierleague.com.

Where is Premier League Summer Series 2025 held?

Across three US venues: MetLife Stadium (New Jersey), Soldier Field (Chicago), and Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta).

Who won the Premier League Summer Series 2025?

Manchester United won with 7 points from two wins and one draw, finishing one point ahead of West Ham United.