Chelsea name travelling squad for Johor Darul Ta'zim pre-season clash

Chelsea have confirmed a star-studded pre-season travelling squad ahead of their 9 August match against Johor Darul Ta'zim at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Malaysia. The fixture closes the club’s APAC tour and gives Malaysian fans their first chance in more than a decade to see Chelsea play outside Kuala Lumpur.

Why it matters: - The match gives Johor Darul Ta'zim a high-profile test against a Premier League club before the new season. - Malaysian supporters will see Chelsea outside Kuala Lumpur for the first time in more than a decade. - The game is Chelsea’s first visit to the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.

What happened: - Chelsea confirmed its pre-season travelling squad ahead of the 9 August showdown in Johor Bahru. - The squad could feature Cole Palmer, João Pedro, Estêvão Willian, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia. - Chelsea are wrapping up a five-match pre-season tour against the reigning Malaysian Super League champions. - Chelsea opened their pre-season with a 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers in Australia. - João Pedro scored a second-half hat-trick in that match. - Jamie Gittens, Dário Essugo and teenage forward Dastan Satpayev also scored.

The details: - The match between Chelsea FC and Johor Darul Ta'zim kicks off at 8.00pm on Sunday, 9 August, at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium. - Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso said the club is looking forward to returning to Malaysia and continuing preparations for the new season. - Alonso said Chelsea sees strong support in Malaysia and appreciates the effort fans make to watch the team. - Chelsea’s Malaysia stop is the final leg of its APAC pre-season tour. - The tour also includes fixtures in Sydney, Hong Kong and Jakarta. - Chelsea will return to England after the tour to finish preparations for the new Premier League season. - The match is supported by Official Experience Partner Tatler. - Ticket prices start at RM154 and rise to RM654 across four seating options. - Tickets are available via tickethotline.com.my. - A processing fee applies per transaction.

Between the lines: - Chelsea are using the tour to build match fitness while showcasing several high-profile attacking and midfield options. - The venue and opponent also point to a broader push to deepen Chelsea’s fan base in Southeast Asia.

What's next: - Chelsea and JDT will meet on 9 August as both teams continue their pre-season preparations. - The result will close out Chelsea’s tour before the squad returns to England.