Xabi Alonso will meet the Stamford Bridge crowd for the first time on August 15 (2pm kick-off) with Chelsea playing a pre-season friendly against Spanish side Real Sociedad. The Blues fly out to Sydney later this week to begin a four-country tour of Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia. Alonso and his new squad are set to arrive back in the UK on August 10/11 - a few days before they welcome La Real to SW6. Alonso was on Sociedad's books for around five years from 1999 until 2004, where he made 114 league appearances, before he moved to Liverpool. The 44-year-old Spaniard then returned to La Real's 'B' side to coach them for around three years before making the big move to take over at Bayer Leverkusen - which proved to be the launchpad of Alonso's coaching career. FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page On August 15, it will be Alonso's first opportunity to meet his adoring supporters at Stamford Bridge, just over a week before Chelsea get their Premier League season underway against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Alonso will be hoping to have a few more signings through the door by the time his home debut comes around. Morgan Rogers will certainly be one of them, with the Aston Villa midfielder signing a long-term contract to join the Blues for a fee understood to be £117million. Chelsea are also advancing in their pursuit of Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix. Blues sources are optimistic a deal with their London rivals can be struck for the France international to move to the Bridge on a long-term basis.