The countdown is on as the Premier League's Summer Series returns for a second year in the United States, kicking off on 26 July when Everton face AFC Bournemouth and Manchester United play West Ham United. Alex Keble selects eight of your favourite stars and explains why they could shine.
Thierno Barry (Everton)
After Dominic Calvert-Lewin left following the expiry of his contract this summer, Everton were in need of competition for Beto, yet it might have caught a few off-guard to see the Toffees splash a reported £27million on a new No 9.
France Under-21 international Barry scored 11 goals and provided four assists for Villarreal in LaLiga last season, helping them qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
But what really stands out is his height - 6ft 5in – and his aerial prowess. Barry ranked second among all forwards in Europe’s 'Big Five' leagues for aerial duel success in 2024/25 (66.7 per cent, minimum 100).
Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)
Bowen's 13 goals and eight assists in the Premier League made him West Ham’s most valuable player last season, but the sale of Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur has only elevated his importance.
Bowen is currently the focal point of attack for Graham Potter, who will expect big things this summer. He scored home and away against both Bournemouth and Man Utd in 2024/25.
In fact, with an assist at Everton's former Goodison Park home too, Bowen managed a goal involvement in five out of six Premier League matches against West Ham’s Summer Series opponents.
Matheus Cunha (Man Utd)
The £62.5m signing of forward Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers is a watershed moment in Ruben Amorim's rebuilding project.
Patrick Dorgu arrived right at the end of the winter window, but Cunha is Amorim’s first big-money capture and a statement of intent. Fairly or not, a lot rides on Cunha’s success.
Certainly how well he fits into the Amorim system – or even, how he unlocks it – will be defining in the early months of the season.
And so all eyes are on Cunha at the Summer Series. If he hits the ground running then excitement can build towards August.
Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)
As Amorim prepares to reboot Man Utd after a disappointing 2024/25 he will be looking to captain Fernandes to lead the way.
But the arrival of Cunha has only further muddied the question of where Fernandes fits into Amorim’s formation: is he going to play regularly as one of the two central midfielders, or alongside Cunha as a No 10?
Facing three Premier League opponents in the US is a great opportunity for Amorim to try out a few things - and for Man Utd supporters to perhaps get a few answers.
Niclas Fullkrug (West Ham)
Injuries badly disrupted Fullkrug’s debut season in England, with the 32-year-old missing 28 matches through two separate issues.
It made for an underwhelming year: three goals in all competitions, and nothing like the impact fans had hoped for after watching Fullkrug at Euro 2024.
West Ham are short up front after the departure of Kudus, plus Evan Ferguson's return to Brighton & Hove Albion following his loan spell, but Fullkrug now has a second chance to assert himself as their No 9.
One of his three goals, incidentally, was against Bournemouth. A strong Summer Series would do Fullkrug a world of good.
Iliman Ndiaye (Everton)
One of the most dazzling players at the Summer Series could be Ndiaye, who really came to life in the second half of last season, scoring six of his nine Premier League goals after David Moyes took charge in January.
As Moyes prepares for his first full season at the helm since 2012/13, and as Everton get ready for their debut year at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, there are high hopes Ndiaye will pick up where he left off in May.
Ndiaye didn’t score a single goal against Everton’s Summer Series opponents, however, and he didn’t make much of an impact for Senegal against Ireland or England in June.
A strong tournament in the US would be a big plus for Moyes.
Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth)
Having lost Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez, there might be extra pressure this season on the Bournemouth forwards to make sure they outscore the opposition.
Semenyo is the standout creative player in Bournemouth's squad and no doubt the main draw for America-based Cherries fans at the Summer Series.
He should come up with the goods. Semenyo scored 11 goals and assisted a further five in the Premier League last season, which included scoring both home and away against Man Utd.
Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth)
Bournemouth acted swiftly to replace Kerkez, spending £14.4m on Rennes left-back Truffert long before Kerkez’s move to Liverpool had even gone through.
Those are big shoes to fill. Truffert only managed four goal involvements in Ligue 1 last season, compared with Kerkez’s seven in the Premier League, but the profile of the two players is similar.
Truffert is a good crosser of the ball and an intelligent footballer who should be capable of adapting to Andoni Iraola’s hard-pressing, direct style.
The Summer Series against Premier League opposition will test that theory.
Summer Series fixtures
Saturday, 26 July @ MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Match 1: Everton vs AFC Bournemouth (16:00 ET kick-off)
Match 2: Manchester United vs West Ham United (19:00 ET kick-off)
Wednesday, 30 July @ Soldier Field, Chicago
Match 1: West Ham United vs Everton (17:30 CT kick-off)
Match 2: Manchester United vs AFC Bournemouth (20:30 CT kick-off)
Sunday, 3 August @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Match 1: AFC Bournemouth vs West Ham United (14:00 ET kick-off)
Match 2: Manchester United vs Everton (17:00 ET kick-off)