Magpies to compete in this summer's Premier League Asia Trophy

All four teams will play in a double-header at Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre on Wednesday, 17th July, with a third/fourth place play-off and final staged at Shanghai's Hongkou Stadium on Saturday, 20th July.

This is the second Premier League Asia Trophy to be held in mainland China, with Beijing hosting the tournament in 2009. It is the first time the biennial tournament has taken place in two different locations, giving more fans the opportunity to enjoy the Premier League experience and witness a world-class line-up of players and managers.

Ticket prices and on-sale dates will be announced soon and the Premier League will continue its commitment to ensuring fans can attend matches at affordable prices. PPSports will be the exclusive broadcaster for the Premier League Asia Trophy in China.

This is the ninth edition of the Premier League Asia Trophy (previously Barclays Asia Trophy). Newcastle United are taking part for the second time after featuring in the inaugural competition in 2003. 

Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City are making their third appearance in the tournament and won the trophy in 2013. West Ham United participated in 2009 and it is a debut appearance for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

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."

The Premier League Asia Trophy is part of the league's ongoing commitment to fans in Asia, and to supporting the development of football at all levels in China.

As part of this, the Premier Skills programme has reached more than one million young people and trained more than 5,000 coaches and referees in 23 cities across China since 2007.

The Premier League also assists China at an elite level through a formal partnership with the Chinese Super League and Chinese FA to help improve the professional game in the country. This bond was further strengthened in 2016 through the UK/China Football Forum and now has a renewed focus on youth development.

In relation to this, a full programme of football development initiatives is planned leading up to and during this year’s tournament, including coach education, referee training and a youth tournament.

The Premier League Asia Trophy will be officiated by Premier League match officials as well as local match officials and will be staged in accordance with Premier League rules.