Palermo FC will welcome Premier League giants Manchester City to the Stadio Renzo Barbera on 9 August for a high-profile friendly match, held as part of celebrations marking 125 years since the club’s founding. The fixture, set to kick-off at 21:00 local time, will be the inaugural edition of the Anglo-Palermitan Trophy.
The match commemorates the origins of Palermo’s football tradition, dating back to 1 November 1900, when the club was officially founded as the Anglo Palermitan Athletic and Football Club by a group of English expatriates. Among them were Edward De Garston, Joseph Whitaker, and George Blake, key figures in introducing football to the Sicilian capital.
The friendly will mark the first meeting between Palermo and Manchester City, and also represents a symbolic link between the two clubs, who are both part of the City Football Group (CFG). Palermo joined CFG in July 2022, becoming the group’s eleventh affiliated club.
Speaking to club media, Palermo officials highlighted the historic nature of the event, describing it as an opportunity to celebrate the club’s identity and pay tribute to its English roots. The Anglo-Palermitan Trophy is also seen as a way to underline the close sporting and cultural ties that have developed between Palermo and Manchester City under CFG ownership.
The fixture will serve as a significant moment for Palermo on a sporting level as well. It will be the debut match at home for new head coach Filippo Inzaghi, who was appointed earlier this summer. The encounter will give Palermo’s squad the chance to test themselves against elite-level opposition in front of a home crowd before the start of the 2025–26 Serie B campaign.
For Manchester City, the match will form part of their pre-season preparations, taking place one week ahead of their Premier League opener. Head coach Pep Guardiola is expected to use the fixture to assess squad fitness and integrate new players.
While the result may not carry competitive implications, the match is being framed as a celebration of Palermo’s footballing heritage and a reflection of its ambitions under new ownership. It is expected to attract significant local interest and international attention, both for its symbolic value and the calibre of the visiting opponent.
The Anglo-Palermitan Trophy aims to establish itself as a recurring event, potentially becoming a regular fixture in Palermo’s football calendar. For now, it serves as the centrepiece of the club’s 125th anniversary and a bridge between its historic past and its aspirations for the future.
