After what must have been the longest season ever — or, at least, felt like it — with a midseason World Cup, a June Champions League final and then a slate of international fixtures, most players at Europe’s top clubs will have enjoyed a well-earned break after the 2023-24 campaign finally ended.

But no sooner had they got fully relaxed on the beach than it was time to report back to their clubs for preseason training. The new season is only a month away, after all.

Many of the biggest clubs began welcoming their top talent back to the fold this week as the fitness testing and gruelling training sessions began before they all head off across the globe on their preseason tours. Some players even got to meet their new coaches and teammates for the very first time.

With the Premier League and LaLiga kicking off their 2023-24 season on Aug. 11 and Ligue 1 beginning the next day before the Bundesliga and Serie A follow suit a week later, there is no time to waste.

Here is a roundup of the clubs and players who have already reported for preseason duty.

Premier League

Arsenal

New summer signing Kai Havertz was welcomed into the Arsenal squad this week, and got reacquainted with former Chelsea teammate Jorginho at the club’s training camp in his native Germany.

Bukayo Saka also got the blood circulating with a nice gentle cycle ride around the grounds at the Bavarian sports complex.

Well, it just wouldn’t be preseason without footage of footballers taking a leisurely bike ride under sunny skies, would it?

Chelsea

New Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino took his first preseason session on Sunday as his reign at the London side officially kicked off.

Returning to the Premier League after four years away, the 51-year-old Argentine presided over a series of drills that put Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell and Reece James through their paces.

Liverpool

Mohamed Salah looked to be all smiles and relishing the challenge ahead as the Egyptian forward returned to the AXA training centre after celebrating his 31st birthday over the summer.

in order to give help teammate July 10, 2023

Sufficiently loosened up, Raphinha then

July 10, 2023

July 10, 2023

New signings Lucas Hernandez and Manuel Ugarte have also been put through their paces to ensure they can keep up with Mbappe when (if?) he does return.