Bristol City have returned to BS3 from a warm‑weather training camp in Spain as preparations intensify for the new Championship season. The squad, now under Michael Skubala, spent the past week working near Alicante and played their first pre-season fixture at the Pinatar Arena, where they faced Stockport County.
Training block completed, friendlies underway
After checking back in for pre-season testing towards the end of June, City built base fitness at the club’s High Performance Centre before heading overseas. While the result against Stockport ultimately went against them, the emphasis at this stage is on conditioning, integration and minutes rather than scorelines. A number of the club’s six new signings featured, offering an early look at how the squad is evolving.
The schedule is continuing to fill. A behind-closed-doors run-out with Newport County has been arranged, with the Exiles set to visit the High Performance Centre on Tuesday. Further friendlies are expected to provide opportunities for tactical work and match sharpness before the league campaign begins in early August.
Transfer picture: additions made and one deal close
City have already moved to refresh the dressing room, with half a dozen arrivals through the door at Ashton Gate. More business is anticipated ahead of the opener. One player strongly linked is Lorent Tolej of Plymouth Argyle. Over the weekend, Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley indicated the forward’s departure from Home Park was close to completion. In his words, the move was entering the:
“final stages.”
Should that transfer be finalised, the Swiss attacker would have a brief but useful window to acclimatise, with multiple friendlies offering valuable minutes alongside prospective team-mates.
Why these weeks matter for City
Pre-season is often about more than fitness. For a squad coming under a head coach at the start of a full campaign, it is the chance to embed pressing triggers, set-piece routines and in-possession patterns away from the pressure of competition. The time in Spain, coupled with controlled training-ground fixtures, allows staff to shape workloads, assess combinations and steadily raise intensity.
For supporters, the next fortnight is also about taking stock of the squad’s direction. With several new faces already involved and potential additions to come, these games provide early hints about roles and systems likely to be carried into August. Although results are not the primary measure, how different units connect — defence with midfield, and supply into the forward line — will be of particular interest.
What we know so far
| Phase | Detail |
|---|---|
| Return to training | Players reported for testing late June at the High Performance Centre |
| Overseas camp | Warm-weather week near Alicante under Michael Skubala |
| First friendly | Outing versus Stockport County at Pinatar Arena |
| Squad moves | Six signings confirmed; further additions expected |
| Linked arrival | Lorent Tolej deal reported close, described as in the “final stages” |
| Upcoming game | Behind-closed-doors match with Newport County on Tuesday |
Local context and the weeks ahead
The pre-season timetable has been assembled with an eye on a busy August in the city and the practicalities around hosting large crowds. While the competitive fixtures are still to come, the current run of controlled matches should give City a platform to start quickly once the Championship gets underway. As the summer of international football concludes, focus in Bristol now returns to the domestic rhythm and the fine-tuning that precedes it.
- City have completed a warm-weather training block and begun their friendlies schedule.
- Six signings have already featured, with further recruitment activity expected.
- A behind-closed-doors meeting with Newport County offers more minutes before August.
Supporters can expect more updates in the coming days as the squad continues to build towards opening weekend. The emphasis remains on fitness, cohesion and clarity of roles, with further opportunities for game-time before the first Championship whistle of the season.
