Chelsea complete Joao Felix signing from Atletico Madrid in £46.3m deal; Portugal forward signs a seven-year deal; Felix becomes Chelsea’s 10th summer signing and takes spending to over £200m; Conor Gallagher moves in opposite direction to Atletico Madrid for £36m
Chelsea have completed the signing of Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid in a deal worth £46.3m, while Conor Gallagher has moved in the opposite direction for £36m.
The Blues have paid a £42m fixed fee for Felix, plus £4.3m in add-ons, while the Portugal international has signed a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
The 24-year-old returns to Chelsea on a permanent deal having spent six months on loan during the second half of the 2022/23 season, scoring four goals in 16 Premier League appearances.
Felix spent last season on loan at Barcelona where he scored 10 goals in 44 appearances.
Felix said: “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.
“I loved my time here before and I told my friends and family that I’d love to return to the Premier League one day. To do that with Chelsea is a great feeling and I’m excited to be back.”
Speaking in a press conference, Maresca added: “He’s a good player and the club already knows him from two years ago. The good thing about Joao is he can play different positions with us – inside, as a No 9 and outside.”
The ex-Benfica player becomes Chelsea’s 10th summer signing following the arrivals of Tosin Adarabioyo, Omari Kellyman, Marc Guiu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Veiga, Caleb Wiley, Aaron Anselmino, Filip Jorgensen and Pedro Neto.
Felix’s arrival also takes Chelsea’s spending to £202.6m making them the Premier League’s top spenders this summer.
The west London club’s spending, however, may not be over yet as it is understood they will try to sign a new striker during this window following the completion of the Felix deal.
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen has been a target all summer, but at the moment Chelsea would not sign him on a permanent deal.
