English Premier League club Manchester United is headed for Melbourne this July as part of a two-match tour secured by the Andrews Labor Government.

Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford today announced that Manchester United will take on local A-League men’s team Melbourne Victory on Friday 15 July and Premier League rivals Crystal Palace on Tuesday 19 July at the MCG.

The games are expected to attract more than 150,000 fans into the city and deliver an important boost to local businesses and jobs.

Manchester United is one of the most popular and successful sports teams in the world, winning 13 English Premier League titles since 1992 – with a legion of fans globally.

The club has a huge Australian following and there will be strong demand for tickets to the Red Devils’ first Melbourne matches since 1999.

The tour follows the success of previous English Premier League exhibition matches, including Liverpool Football Club in 2013 and Manchester City FC in 2015.

Each match is expected to inject millions of dollars into the economy as tens of thousands of fans snap up the chance to see an iconic international sporting team play at the MCG.

The Labor Government is backing a blockbuster calendar of events in 2022, which will encourage more interstate travellers to visit Victoria.

Tickets will go on sale Monday 4 April at 2pm and can be purchased via Ticketek.