Joao Felix rejoins Chelsea on seven-year contract

Chelsea have signed Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid.

A versatile attacker, the 24-year-old joins on a seven-year deal, returning on a permanent basis after a loan spell with the Blues in the 2022/2023 season, when he played 16 Premier League matches and scored four goals.

Conor Gallagher has gone the other way to Atletico Madrid, completing his move earlier in the day on Wednesday.

What did Joao Felix have to say?

"It’s a chance for me to find a home," Joao Felix 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.

"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. I’m more prepared for the Premier League. 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."

Who is Joao Felix?  

Joao Felix was born on 10 November 1999 in Viseu, Portugal, and began his career at Benfica. 

In 2018, aged 17, he made his debut for the Portuguese side, enjoying a breakout season as he recorded 15 goals and nine assists in 26 appearances, winning the league title and the Golden Boy award.  

After a stellar debut season, Joao Felix was then called up to the Portugal national team in 2019. 

The following season, he made the move to Atletico Madrid, becoming their club-record signing. But he was unable to establish himself in Diego Simeone’s side, leading to loan spells at Chelsea and then Barcelona, where he scored 10 goals in 44 appearances.  

Joao Felix is still a mainstay in the Portugal national team, having played at EURO 2024. He has made 41 appearances for his country, scoring eight goals. 

Where he will fit in? 

In the second half of the 2022/23 season, when he was on loan with Chelsea, Joao Felix featured as a striker, left-winger and attacking midfielder. His strengths lie in his movement and technical ability that underpin his versatility in the forward line.  

Joao Felix's 2022/23 Chelsea stats

Chelsea’s transfer activity 

Chelsea have been one of the most-active clubs in the transfer market, and Joao Felix joins notable signings including Pedro Neto, Filip Jorgensen, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Tosin Adarabioyo.  

Chelsea's attacking options

Armando Broja, Joao Felix, David Datro Fofana, Marc Guiu, Nicolas Jackson, Romelu Lukaku, Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer, Raheem Sterling.   

See: Summer 2024 transfers and news

When could he make his debut? 

Chelsea host Swiss side Servette in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League playoff tie on Thursday. They then visit Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday in their second Premier League fixture.