READING FC will host Chelsea in a glamorous pre-season friendly on Saturday, July 28 (3pm).

The Europa Cup holders will be Royals' final opponents before they return to Skybet Championship under boss Jose Gomes.

For Chelsea – who finished third in the Premiership last season – it will be their only pre-season game in England, with the club touring Japan before playing a warm-up game against RB Salzburg in Austria.

Royals last met Chelsea in a memorable Premier League game back in January 2013, a strong visiting outfit going 2-0 up courtesy of goals from Juan Mata and Frank Lampard.

While Chelsea featured the likes of John Terry, Ashley Cole and Fernando Torres, it was Adam Le Fondre who had the final say, the hitman pulling one back in the 87th minute before snatching an injury-time equaliser.

And there is the potential for many of Chelsea's current stars to feature at Madejski Stadium, including the likes of David Luiz, Ross Barkley, Olivier Giroud, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Pedro and recent signing Christian Pulisic.

The last time Royals took on Chelsea in a pre-season game, in 2009, it was again a dramatic encounter.

Goals from Jimmy Kebe and Scott Davies put Reading in command, only for Salomon Kalou to halve the deficit before an unfortunate Alex Pearce own goal gifted the then FA Cup holders a share of the spoils.

Royals are due to return to training on Monday, July 1, with various UK-based friendlies still to be confirmed.

The players will then fly to Andalucia the following Sunday where they will stay for two weeks, playing a number of friendlies against unnamed opposition.

These may well include a number of double-header days featuring back-to-back friendlies, with all due to be played behind closed doors.

They then return to take on Chelsea, while the Championship season starts the following weekend.