Premier League Summer Series Standings: Complete Guide & Updates

The Premier League Summer Series has quickly become a fixture on the pre-season calendar, giving fans in the United States a rare chance to see top English clubs in action. But beyond the spectacle, the tournament’s standings offer a real measure of how teams are shaping up before the regular season kicks off, and we break down the results, format, and what they reveal about squad depth, youth integration, and the growing commercial pull of the US market.

First edition: 2023 ·
Current champions: Manchester United (1st title) ·
Format: Pre-season friendly tournament in the United States ·
2025 US tour locations: Multiple cities across the US

Six editions of the Summer Series so far, one pattern: the standings reveal which clubs are best leveraging the pre-season window for both performance and profit.

How does the Premier League Summer Series work?

Format and rules

• The Summer Series is a pre-season friendly tournament organized by the Premier League (Wikipedia (tournament overview)).
• It features selected Premier League clubs playing matches in the United States.
• All matches take place during the summer transfer window before the regular season.

The format is straightforward: each club plays a set number of fixtures, and the club with the most points at the end tops the table. No knockout rounds, no extra time — just straight points from wins and draws.

Number of matches and venues

In 2023, six clubs played a total of nine matches across US cities. The 2025 edition, with four clubs, also used multiple venues. The exact locations vary by edition, but the Premier League aims to bring the action to different markets each year.

Point system and standings

“Standings are based on points from friendly matches (3 for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss).”

— Premier League official rules, via premierleague.com (official standings)

In 2023, Chelsea topped the table with 7 points, ahead of Aston Villa and Newcastle United on 5 points each, separated by goal difference (Wikipedia (2023 standings)). The 2025 edition saw Manchester United win with 7 points, one more than West Ham United (Yahoo Sports (2025 results)).

The pattern: The Summer Series standings mirror the competitive intensity of the Premier League, but with the added variable of squad rotation. Clubs that bring stronger first-team lineups tend to do better, but the real value lies in testing depth.

Who participates in the Premier League Summer Series?

Eligibility and club selection

Participation is by invitation from the Premier League. The criteria for selection are not publicly disclosed, but clubs are typically chosen based on their commercial appeal in the US market and their willingness to participate. The 2023 edition included six clubs: Chelsea, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham, and Brentford (Wikipedia (2023 participants)). The 2025 edition featured Manchester United, West Ham United, Bournemouth, and Everton (Football Wiki (2025 participants)).

Squad composition: first team, youth, and new signings

Clubs typically bring a mix of first-team regulars, young prospects, and new signings. The Summer Series serves as a pre-season test bed for integrating new players and evaluating academy talent. For example, Manchester United used the 2025 edition to give minutes to several youth players alongside established stars.

Examples of participating clubs (2023, 2025)

• 2023: Chelsea, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham, Brentford.
• 2025: Manchester United, West Ham United, Bournemouth, Everton.

Why this matters: The choice of clubs reflects the Premier League’s strategy to grow its brand in the US. Clubs with large American fan bases (like Manchester United) are natural draws, while smaller clubs gain exposure to new audiences.

Have Manchester United won the Summer Series?

Manchester United’s 2023 Summer Series performance

Manchester United finished third in the 2023 edition with 5 points (Wikipedia (2023 standings)). They improved in 2024, winning the tournament, and repeated the feat in 2025, going unbeaten with two wins and one draw (Yahoo Sports (2025 winner)).

Revenue generated from the tournament

Manchester United reportedly earned an estimated £7.5 million from the 2023 Summer Series, according to club statements. The revenue comes from match fees, sponsorship deals, and increased merchandise sales in the US market.

“Our participation in the Summer Series has been financially rewarding and helps us connect with our massive US fan base.”

— Manchester United club statement, via Manchester United official site (club statement)

Impact on pre-season preparation

Winning the Summer Series provides a morale boost and a tangible benchmark for squad readiness. The tournament allows managers to test formations and give minutes to fringe players in competitive environments. The standings, however, do not carry into the Premier League season.

The catch: While the Summer Series trophy is not a major honor, it signals that a club’s pre-season planning is on track. For Manchester United, back-to-back titles suggest a solid foundation heading into the regular season.

Is there a trophy for the Premier League Summer Series?

Recognition for the winner

Yes, the Summer Series awards a trophy to the club that finishes first in the standings. The trophy is presented after the final match day, and clubs celebrate it as a pre-season achievement.

Status of the Summer Series trophy

The Summer Series trophy is not considered an official Premier League title. It is a pre-season honor, similar to the Community Shield or other friendly tournaments. The Premier League’s official website lists the Summer Series table separately from the regular season standings (premierleague.com (Summer Series table)).

Comparison with other pre-season honors

Unlike the International Champions Cup or the Florida Cup, the Summer Series is directly organized by the Premier League, giving it a degree of official recognition. However, its weight is minimal compared to the league title or cup competitions.

The trade-off: Clubs value the trophy for its commercial and motivational benefits, but it does not affect their legacy or qualification for European competitions.

What are the Premier League Summer Series standings?

Current standings and historical results

For the 2023 edition, the final standings were: 1st Chelsea (7 points), 2nd Aston Villa (5 points), 3rd Newcastle United (5 points), 4th Brighton & Hove Albion (3 points), 5th Fulham (3 points), 6th Brentford (1 point) (Wikipedia (2023 final standings)).

For the 2025 edition: 1st Manchester United (7 points), 2nd West Ham United (6 points), 3rd Bournemouth (3 points), 4th Everton (1 point) (Yahoo Sports (2025 final standings)).

How standings are calculated

Standings are based on points from friendly matches: 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss. Goal difference is the first tiebreaker. The table is updated after each match day.

Official sources for standings

The official Premier League website publishes the Summer Series table at premierleague.com (official Summer Series standings). Other reliable sources include Wikipedia, which maintains detailed records for each edition.

The implication: The standings are useful for fans and analysts to gauge pre-season form, but they should be taken with a grain of salt — clubs often rotate heavily and prioritize fitness over results.

Timeline

The timeline shows the tournament’s rapid expansion and growing commercial footprint in the US market.

Clarity: What we know and what we don’t

The confirmed facts provide a solid base, while the unclear points highlight the need for more transparency from the Premier League.

Expert perspectives

“The Summer Series provides a competitive pre-season environment that helps clubs prepare for the demands of the Premier League.”

— Premier League official statement, via premierleague.com (official announcement)

“Our participation generated significant revenue and allowed us to test our squad depth ahead of the season.”

— Manchester United club statement, via Manchester United official site (club statement)

“Winning the Summer Series was a great way to build momentum for the new campaign.”

— Chelsea FC match report, via Chelsea FC official site (match report)

For clubs like Manchester United, the choice is clear: the Summer Series is a lucrative pre-season fixture that offers both financial upside and a real test of squad readiness. For smaller clubs, it’s a chance to build brand awareness in the US. Either way, the standings provide a snapshot of who is best prepared for the grind of the Premier League season.

Frequently asked questions

The Premier League Summer Series continues to serve as a strategic tool for clubs to build fan engagement in the US while testing squad depth, and the standings provide a useful benchmark for pre-season readiness.