Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Portugal international João Félix from Atlético Madrid, with the forward committing to a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge. The 24-year-old returns to west London following a loan spell in the latter half of the 2022/23 season, where he netted four times in 20 appearances across all competitions. After a stint at Barcelona on loan, Félix now rejoins Chelsea in a permanent deal worth around £44.5 million, according to The Athletic. Atlético Madrid has also secured a sell-on clause as part of the agreement.
The former Benfica prodigy initially signed for Atlético Madrid in 2019 for a massive €126 million (£113 million) – the fourth-highest transfer fee in football history at the time. Despite the substantial investment, Félix struggled to reach the heights expected of him at the Spanish club, managing just 34 goals in 131 appearances. A falling out with former Atlético manager Diego Simeone led to his temporary move to Barcelona, where he found the net 10 times last season.
Speaking to Chelsea’s official website, Félix expressed his joy at returning to the Premier League club. “I’m really happy to be back at Chelsea and I can’t wait to get started. I can see some familiar faces from the last time I was here, which is always nice,” the Portuguese forward said. He also shared that he had fond memories of his previous time with the Blues and that it had always been his wish to come back to the Premier League one day. “To do that with Chelsea is a great feeling and I’m excited to be back,” he added.
Félix’s return is just one of several moves Chelsea has made in the summer transfer window. The club has also added Omari Kellyman, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Viega, Caleb Wiley, and Pedro Neto to their squad. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will have a variety of options in attack with the addition of Félix, who will be competing for a place in the lineup alongside Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernández, and Nicolas Jackson.
Prior to Chelsea securing the permanent signing, Félix was also a target for Aston Villa, with manager Unai Emery reportedly interested in bringing him to Villa Park. However, the Blues managed to complete the deal, marking another chapter in the player’s career in the Premier League.
Félix’s transfer is the latest in a string of business dealings between Chelsea and Atlético Madrid. On Wednesday, it was announced that Conor Gallagher would be moving to Spain, furthering the relationship between the two clubs.
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