Chelsea have officially announced the signing of João Félix from Atlético Madrid, with the Portuguese forward committing to a seven-year contract.
The 24-year-old, who previously enjoyed a loan spell at Stamford Bridge during the second half of the 2022/23 season, scored four goals in 20 appearances across all competitions before moving on loan to Barcelona for the following campaign, where he netted ten goals.
Félix’s return to Chelsea comes as part of a busy transfer window for the club, which also saw the arrivals of Omari Kellyman, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Veiga, Caleb Wiley, and Pedro Neto.
The Athletic reports that the deal is valued at approximately £44.5 million, with Atlético Madrid securing a sell-on clause as part of the agreement.
Expressing his excitement about rejoining the Blues, Félix shared on Chelsea’s official website, “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.”
Félix initially joined Atlético Madrid in 2019 for a record-breaking €126 million, £113 million, making him the fourth most expensive player in football history at the time.
However, despite his high-profile transfer, he managed only 34 goals in 131 appearances for the Spanish side.
His return to Chelsea adds another chapter to the ongoing business relationship between the London club and Atlético Madrid, with Conor Gallagher’s move to Spain also being confirmed on Wednesday.
