Tottenham Hotspur is gearing up for its first pre-season friendly against MK Dons, scheduled for July 22, 2026, at their training center in Enfield. After finishing in 17th place in the Premier League for two consecutive seasons, Tottenham is eager to revamp its squad and return to competitive form.

Under the guidance of new head coach Roberto De Zerbi, the club has made substantial investments in the transfer market, breaking its own records. Tottenham spent £85 million to acquire Mateus Fernandes and is close to finalizing a deal for Sandro Tonali, which could exceed £100 million. In addition to strengthening their midfield, Spurs have bolstered their defense with the signings of Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson, and experienced goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. These acquisitions reflect the club's desire to create a more balanced team after a season that highlighted weaknesses across all areas.

Most of the Tottenham squad has returned to training, with the exception of a few players who are still on leave following international competitions. The team is preparing for a summer tour in New Zealand and Australia, where they will face Auckland FC, Sydney FC, and Chelsea. However, the friendly against MK Dons will serve as the first opportunity for De Zerbi to assess his new signings and test new tactical systems before the busy season ahead.

MK Dons, who recently secured promotion to League One, come into this match with better match fitness, having already played several friendlies. The team, managed by Paul Warne, has recorded a 4-1 victory over Maidenhead United and a 2-1 loss to NK Istra in their pre-season preparations.

In terms of personnel, Tottenham is likely to give debuts to new signings Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, both of whom have joined the squad early as they did not participate in the World Cup. Conversely, Jan Paul van Hecke and Andy Robertson may not feature in this match, while captain Cristian Romero and right-back Pedro Porro are on leave after competing in the World Cup final.

On the other hand, MK Dons has also strengthened their squad by signing midfielder Dan Barlaser, who joins on a free transfer after leaving Middlesbrough. Barlaser previously had a notable loan spell at Hibernian and is familiar with Warne from their time at Rotherham United.

The expected line-ups for the match are as follows:

• Tottenham: Austin, Adewole, Dorrington, Phillips, Souza, Gray, Gallagher, Donley, Maddison, Moore, Lankshear.
• MK Dons: MacGillivray, Ekpiteta, Nelson, Goode, Jones, Wintle, Gilbey, Barlaser, Bramall, Hepburn-Murphy, Mendez-Laing.

This friendly match is crucial for both teams as they prepare for the upcoming season, with Tottenham looking to build momentum before their challenging Premier League opener against Brentford.