Newcastle: Saudi Sela Sports Events Company has been selected as the main sponsor of the pre-season football tournament to be held at Newcastle United.

The Sela Cup, which is being held in conjunction with Visit Malta, will be held at St James’ Park a week before the start of the Premier League season.

The competition will see the participation of Newcastle United – who returned to pre-season training on Sunday – as the European Union beat the finalists Fiorentina, Villarreal of Spain and Nice of France. She is expected to become a permanent fixture in the Magpies summer schedule for the duration of Sela’s multi-year sponsorship contract.

Eddie Howe’s side will face Fiorentina, who lost to West Ham United in the Conference League Final in May, on Saturday 5 August, before hosting Villarreal the next day. Nice will meet Villarreal in the early game on Saturday and Fiorentina on Sunday.

“The tournament is made possible by Newcastle United’s new partners, Sela, and event sponsors Visit Malta, which promote travel to the hugely popular Mediterranean island and support its bustling tourism industry,” the club said.

Newcastle United Women, who became the first professional club in the history of England’s third tier, will also appear on the Tyneside Football Weekend, with West Bromwich Albion Women at teatime on August 5.

The tournament format will see teams awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw, and an additional point for each goal scored. On Sunday, following the final, the winners will be presented with the Sela Cup, presented by VisitMalta.

Newcastle United chief executive Darren Iles said: “There is huge excitement in the 2023/24 season, so being able to give our fans two days of football involving both the men’s and women’s teams is something everyone is looking forward to.

“Being able to attract elite clubs from three of the biggest leagues in Europe shows our ambition to grow as a club and the growing appeal of Newcastle United.

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our partners, Sela and VisitMalta, for making this possible. Having them on board to offer their expertise in delivering first class events and activities will ensure that the tournament will be a great weekend for all coming to St James’ Park.”

Ibrahim Mohtaseb, Senior Vice President at Sela, said: “Since we announced our partnership with Newcastle United, we have seen incredible support and interest in Sela, both in the UK and the Middle East.

“Being able to further our relationship with Newcastle’s passionate fan base is really exciting and we are sure the Sila Cup will be popular with fans at a very exciting time before the new season.

“Sela pride themselves on creating world-class experiences, so for us, bringing our resources and expertise to Newcastle is something we are all very proud to play a key part in and we hope everyone enjoys what promises to be a great weekend of football.”

Malta’s Minister for Tourism Clayton Bartolo said: “In an age when travel has become an essential part of our lives, sports tourism acts as a catalyst for growth, uniting people from diverse backgrounds through the universal language of sport.

“The Sella Cup, presented by VisitMalta, will be an excellent opportunity to boost the Maltese island’s prospects in the world of tourism.”