Chelsea announce permanent signing of Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid

Joao Felix has been unveiled by Chelsea (Picture: Chelsea FC)

Chelsea have completed the signing of Atletico Madrid attacking midfielder Joao Felix.

Felix, 24, spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan with the Blues and returns to Stamford Bridge on a permanent basis for a fee in the region of £44.5million.

The Portugal international underwent a medical with Chelsea on Tuesday and has put pen to paper on a seven-year contract in west London, tying him to the club until 2031.

Felix was with Barcelona on a season-long loan last term and racked up ten goals and four assists in all competitions for the Catalan giants. His arrival at Chelsea paved the way for Conor Gallagher to head in the opposite direction.

The former Golden Boy-award winner becomes Chelsea’s tenth addition of the summer following deals for Pedro Neto, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Filip Jorgensen, Omari Kellyman, Aaron Anselmino, Renato Veiga, Caleb Wiley, Marc Guiu and Tosin Adarabioyo.

‘It’s a chance for me to find a home,’ Joao told Chelsea’s official website.

‘After two loans, Chelsea and Barca, I needed to stay permanently in one place. There is no better place for me to be than Chelsea. I see a perfect place to shine.

‘It was a little bit of a lot of things that made me want to come back: the project, the club, the league, the fans, the time I spent here that I loved. I felt really good when I was here, despite the results we had. I’m really happy to be back.’

Felix returns to Stamford Bridge following a loan spell in 2022/23 (Picture: Chelsea FC)

Felix added: ‘I’ve developed as a player in a lot of ways: the perception of the game, and the spaces the ball can arrive easily where I can make more impact,’ he explains. ‘I try to figure it out by watching some videos of me of my games.

‘I’ve kind of changed since I was last here. I’m 24 now. I’ll be 25 in November. I feel like I grew up as a player. That’s normal with age. I’m more prepared for the Premier League.

‘I feel like my best years are ahead of me. I have no doubt about that. The best years are still to come. And this year is going to be a good year, because now I am permanently at home, and I can enjoy home.’

Felix began his professional career with Benfica and established himself as one of the most promising youngsters in European football across an eye-catching 2018/19 campaign, scoring 20 goals in 43 games for the Primeira Liga side.

The attacker went on to complete a high-profile £113m switch to Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2019 – which remains the fourth highest transfer fee ever paid after Philippe Coutinho, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

But Felix has struggled to live up to that extraordinary price tag in the intervening years and is determined to rejuvenate his career back in the Premier League.

Felix became the fourth most expensive transfer ever when he joined Atletico in 2019 (Picture: Getty)

The Portuguese is confident his game is well suited to the style of play and methodology Enzo Maresca wishes to implement at Chelsea.

‘It will suit my game perfectly. I just want to give my best to the team and the club: goals and assists,’ he continued.

‘This season I want to play as many games as I can, help the team and the club be on top of world football again. Chelsea needs to be up there.

‘This season we have to do a big season, and I am going to do my best to help.’

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