Pep Guardiola’s side lock horns with Enzo Maresca’s at 22:30 (UK) on Saturday 3 August at Ohio Stadium, Columbus.
It’s available to watch live with a CITY+ subscription in selected countries, while our Matchday Centre and post-match highlights mean you won’t miss any of the key action on mancity.com or our official app.
As the Blues and the Londoners are two of the most successful English clubs since the turn of the century, there are plenty of links between the sides including players who have represented both.
Here we take a look at notable figures who have played for both on the pitch…
KEVIN DE BRUYNE
Kevin De Bruyne has rubber-stamped his status as one of world football’s finest operators during his time at City after signing from Wolfsburg in 2015.
Since then, the Belgian midfield maestro has won 15 major honours with Pep Guardiola’s side scoring a remarkable 102 goals and registering 170 assists in all competitions.
So often the man for the big occasion, he has also won a swathe of individual awards including back-to-back PFA Players’ Player of the Year awards in 2020 and 2021.
He played an integral role in the Blues winning the Treble in 2022/23 – scoring twice and registering an assist in a crucial 4-1 win over Premier Legue title rivals Arsenal and netting a fantastic equaliser in the 1-1 semi-final first leg against Read Madrid.
However, his first taste of English football came with Chelsea after arriving at Stamford Bridge from Genk in 2012.
De Bruyne found opportunities hard to come by and made only nine appearances in all competitions before departing for Wolfsburg permanently in 2014.
MATEO KOVACIC
Current City midfielder is Mateo Kovacic joined Guardiola’s side from Chelsea in the summer of 2023.
Across 46 appearances in all competitions during his first season at the Etihad, the Croatia international helped us to a historic fourth straight Premier League title and UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup triumphs.
He scored his first goal for the Club in the 3-0 Club World Cup semi-final win over Urawa Red Diamonds before he scored in back-to-back appearances against Luton in respective wins.
By winning three trophies during his maiden City season – including his first-ever Premier League crown - it continued Kovacic illustrious spell in England.
During his time with Chelsea between 2018 to 2023 he helped them to Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup glory in 2021 – two years after winning the Europa League with the Stamford Bridge outfit.
RAHEEM STERLING
During Raheem Sterling’s time with City between 2015 and 2022, the forward won 11 major honours – including four Premier League titles.
A key member of Guardiola’s side, he made 339 appearances during that time – scoring 131 goals as he often clinically finished slick attacking moves carved in the Catalan’s vision.
HOW TO WATCH CITY’S US TOUR MATCHES
In the 2019 EFL Cup final, he scored the winning penalty to beat Chelsea at Wembley before scoring twice in the 6-0 FA Cup showpiece win over Watford the same year.
He then joined Chelsea permanently in the summer of 2022 and has since made 82 appearances in all competitions, scoring 19 goals.
NATHAN AKE
The Netherlands international has cemented his place in Manchester City’s defence since his arrival from Bournemouth in 2020.
In every season since he joined Guardiola’s team he has won the Premier League – helping us to a historic four straight men’s English top-flight crowns.
What’s more he has also lifted the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup, FA Cup and League Cup in Manchester.
In total, he has made 125 appearances for the Blues, scored 10 goals and won nine trophies.
However, after stints in ADO Den Haag and Feyenoord’s academies, he signed for Chelsea and progressed through their youth ranks before loans at Reading, Watford and Bournemouth.
Overall, he made 17 appearances for the Londoners.
NICOLAS ANELKA
After spells in England with Arsenal and Liverpool between stints with Paris Saint Germain and Real Madrid, Nicolas Anelka signed for Kevin Keegan’s City in 2002.
During his first season with the Club, he finished as our top goalscorer with 14 Premier League goals during our final term at Maine Road.
He would total 46 goals for the Blues before departing for Fenerbache in January 2005.
Bolton would then bring him back to the Premier League ahead of a move to Chelsea.
While with the London club, he made 185 appearances and won the Premier League and two FA Cups.
FRANK LAMPARD
A certified Chelsea legend, Frank Lampard won 13 major honours during his time there between 2001 and 2014.
What’s more, he became their record scorer during that period – finishing on 211 goals in all competitions.
When his illustrious spell at Stamford Bridge came to an end in 2014, it was announced he would become a New York City FC player but would initially play for Manuel Pellegrini’s City in 2014/15.
His first goal for the Blues ironically came against Chelsea in a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium and he went on to score a total of eight goals for the Club.
OTHERS
Another notable name to have played for both is Shaun Wright-Phillips who made 275 appearances for City across two spells either side of his three years at Chelsea.
Alongside the skilful winger to have featured for the Blues and the Londoners are Cole Palmer, Daniel Sturridge, Wayne Bridge, Scott Sinclair and Willy Caballero.
USA TOUR 2024
Our final pre-season clash against Chelsea is available to watch on CITY+ in the following regions:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vietnam
And if purchasing CITY+ via the Man City App on iOS: Albania, Armenia, Cambodia, Georgia, Iceland, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
For fans outside of the countries named, we will have a full explainer article on how to watch each match coming in due course.
To access these matches from one of the locations listed above, you will need an active CITY+ subscription.
CITY+ is available via an annual subscription of £34.99 a year, saving you £24 on our monthly offering.
Choose monthly and pay £4.99 a month with the option to cancel anytime.
Official Cityzens and Season Ticket Members can subscribe annually for £30 a year, a saving of £29.
*Tour matches will not be available to watch on our TV app.
