Chelsea have confirmed the everlasting signing of Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid.
Portugal worldwide Felix, who has eight objectives in 41 Selecao caps, spent final season on mortgage at Barcelona, scoring 10 instances in 44 matches.
Chelsea signed him on mortgage through the second half of the 2022-23 season, receiving a return of 4 objectives in 16 league appearances.
Now 24, Felix turned Atleti’s report signing when he joined Diego Simeone’s facet for £113m from Benfica in 2019, scoring 9 instances and offering three assists in 36 appearances in his first season on the membership.
However having spent the final two seasons unsettled, he has now made Stamford Bridge his everlasting residence.
In keeping with the BBC, the Blues can pay round £45million for Felix, having despatched Conor Gallagher the opposite manner for round £33m.
Chelsea is the place he belongs. 🏡
We’re delighted to announce the signing of Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid. 🇵🇹🔵 pic.twitter.com/k8jF2PNSgV
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 21, 2024
Talking for the primary time as a everlasting Chelsea man, he mentioned: “After two loans, Chelsea and Barca, I wanted to remain completely in a single place. There is no such thing as a higher place for me to be than Chelsea. I see an ideal place to shine.
“It was a little bit little bit of loads of issues that made me need to come again: the undertaking, the membership, the league, the followers, the time I spent right here that I liked.
“I felt actually good once I was right here, regardless of the outcomes we had. I’m actually blissful to be again.
“I’ve developed as a participant in loads of methods: the notion of the sport, and the areas the ball can arrive simply the place I could make extra influence.
“I attempt to determine it out by watching some movies of me of my video games.
“I’ve type of modified since I used to be final right here. I’m 24 now. I’ll be 25 in November. I really feel like I grew up as a participant. That’s regular with age. I’m extra ready for the Premier League.
“I really feel like my finest years are forward of me. I’ve little question about that. The perfect years are nonetheless to come back. And this yr goes to be an excellent yr, as a result of now I’m completely at residence, and I can take pleasure in residence.”
Residence once more. pic.twitter.com/rIVHTYHCVO
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 21, 2024
Head coach Enzo Maresca was delighted to get Felix on board, regardless of the excess variety of gamers nonetheless on the membership.
The likes of Noni Madueke and Raheem Sterling have been instructed they haven’t any future on the West London membership and that Felix might be picked of their place.
He mentioned: “I’m not working with 42 gamers. I’m working with 21 gamers. The opposite 15-20 gamers are coaching aside. I don’t see them. It’s not a large number prefer it seems from exterior. Completely not.
“They’ll even have 20 years contract, it’s not my level. I don’t care.
“I’m not saying Raheem shouldn’t be an excellent participant however I favor totally different sorts of wingers. It’s easy. I’ve been sincere, he may have no minutes right here.
“Joao Felix, he’s a expertise. The membership already is aware of him. The nice factor is he can play totally different positions for us: inside, 9, exterior.”
Chelsea misplaced their opening Premier League fixture to champions Manchester Metropolis however might be hoping to get again on observe with Felix’s assist once they journey to Wolves this weekend.
