When does the season start?

Chelsea’s 2021/22 campaign will begin a little earlier than most clubs’, courtesy of our Champions League triumph, as we are set to face Europa League winners Villarreal in the UEFA Super Cup at Belfast’s Windsor Park on Wednesday 11 August.

The new Premier League season is scheduled to start a few days later, on Saturday 14 August, running until Sunday 22 May.

When are the 2021/22 Premier League fixtures announced?

There isn’t much longer to wait until we learn who our first and last opponents in the competition will be. The Premier League officially switched to the 2021/22 season at their Annual General Meeting on Thursday, confirming the addition of promoted clubs Norwich City, Watford and Brentford to replace the three relegated sides – Fulham, Sheffield United and West Bromwich.

Next up on the schedule is the announcement of all 380 fixtures for the 20 teams competing in the 2021/22 Premier League season, which will be revealed from 9am on Wednesday 16 June.

How are the Premier League fixtures decided?

Those fixtures are determined by a semi-random draw, which breaks the season down into 10 sets of games, which are mirrored between the first and second half of the season.

That is to ensure that no club plays more than three home or away matches during any five-game period, while also meeting other criteria such as preventing neighbouring clubs from both playing at home on the same day.

That means Chelsea are unlikely to be at Stamford Bridge at the same time as Brentford, who now become our closest top-flight neighbours following their promotion and Fulham’s relegation.

Where will the Premier League fixtures be announced?

Check back here on the official Chelsea website or the The 5th Stand app on Wednesday to find out who we will be playing on the opening day of the season and when the first-ever Premier League derby between the Blues and Brentford will take place, as well as all our other 2021/22 fixtures.