Aston Villa's pre-season preparations start next week ahead of their first friendly against Walsall on Wednesday, July 17, which is one of seven matches Unai Emery's side will play before the new Premier League campaign.

Villa will play twice at the Bescot Stadium, twice in Europe and three games on the tour of the USA. After facing Walsall, Villa play Spartak Trnava in Slovakia on Saturday, July 20, before jetting out to the States. The travelling squad will then be named for friendlies against Columbus Crew (July 28), RB Leipzig (August 1) and Club America (August 3).

Upon returning to the UK, Villa face Athletic Bilbao at the Bescot Stadium on Wednesday, August. Their final pre-season friendly will be against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday, August 10.

Emery is expected to call up a number of academy players to first-team training at Bodymoor Heath after seven senior players represented or are still representing their nations at Euro 2024 and the Copa America. They are John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, Emi Martinez, Jhon Duran, Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and new signing Ian Maatsen.

It is unclear how long Emery will give players to rest after playing in the international tournaments, but Villa will set off to America just over a week after the Euro 2024 and Copa America final. While Maatsen is away on international duty, other new signings Enzo Barrenechea, Samuel Iling-Junior, Lewis Dobbin and Ross Barkley are all expected to train from the first day of pre-season next week.

Villa signed Barrenechea and Iling-Junior for PS18.6 combined as Douglas Luiz completed a move to the Italian giants for PS42m. Lewis Dobbin joined Villa for PS9m, while Tim Iroegbunam headed the other way for a deal worth up to PS13m.

Omari Kellyman left Villa for PS19m after Chelsea agreed to the PS37.5m sale of left-back Maatsen. Barkley is the Villa's latest addition and he has been working at Bodymoor Heath in the past week ahead of the start of pre-season next week.