Tottenham Hotspur today announced that the club will be playing a friendly against San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, July 17 at the Buck Shaw Stadium in San Jose, California.

Yesterday, EPL Talk learned that Spurs will also be competing in the New York Football Challenge against Sporting Lisbon and Red Bull New York between July 22-25 in Harrison, New Jersey.

“The summer camp will be a very important part of our preparations for the new campaign and we’re looking forward to heading out to the United States in the summer,” said Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp.  “I spent some time out there during the 1970s playing and coaching in Seattle and any chance I get to go back there is something I always look forward to.”

In addition to Tottenham Hotspur, both Manchester City and Manchester United will be playing friendlies in North America this summer.

Not to be outdone by rivals Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur has announced a strategic partnership with a Major League Soccer club.

In 2007, Arsenal announced a partnership with Colorado. Now Spurs have announced a deal with San Jose Earthquakes. The major difference with the Spurs deal is that it sets the wheel in motion for Tottenham to conduct future US tours.

According to Tottenham Development Coach Clive Allen, “The relationship will provide us with the opportunity to exchange coaches and methodology as well as providing a base for the Club in any future US tours. Our aim is to support the development of MLS by using our wealth of experience in the game on a number of levels. Football development will certainly be an integral part of the partnership, but other areas of our infrastructure will be beneficial models such as the work we do in the community with the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.”

Tottenham Hotspur first visited the US in 1951 to play Manchester United at Yankee Stadium, New York. The match ended with a 7-1 scoreline in favor of Spurs. In 1966 the Club toured the US for the first time and played matches in numerous locations including Chicago, Detroit, Hartford, Jersey City and San Francisco. Tottenham Hotspur last visited the US in 2003 to play DC United in the Capital Cup, which resulted in a defeat against the Washington-based team.

It’s not known when Spurs will play preseason friendlies in the United States, but it may happen as early as the summer of 2009 or 2010.