FC Barcelona will face English Premier League veteran Chelsea and the J. League's Vissel Kobe this July, adding to the list of star-studded club friendlies set to take place in Japan this summer.

The Spanish first-division leader, which last October announced plans to visit Japan and China in its upcoming preseason tour, will play Chelsea at Saitama Stadium on July 23 before traveling west to take on Vissel at Noevir Stadium.

It is arguably the culmination of a partnership which began in 2017, when Rakuten became the club's top sponsor.