Atlético Madrid’s star forward João Félix is set to spend the remainder of the 2022/23 season at Chelsea, the Premier League club confirmed on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old Portuguese international joins Chelsea on a loan deal, bringing a wealth of talent and experience to Stamford Bridge as the team seeks to turn around a challenging season.
“I am thrilled to be here at Chelsea,” Félix said in a statement from the club. “Chelsea is one of the biggest teams in the world, and I am eager to contribute to the team’s goals and ambitions.”
Félix comes to Chelsea after a remarkable stint at Atlético Madrid, where he made 131 appearances and netted 34 goals. His transfer to Atlético from Benfica in 2019 was one of the most expensive in football history, costing $142 million (€126 million) and ranking as the fifth-largest transfer at that time.
In addition to his club career, Félix has earned 28 caps for the Portuguese national team, scoring once during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. His arrival at Chelsea comes at a time of uncertainty for the club, which has been struggling under manager Graham Potter and currently finds itself in 10th place in the Premier League standings.
Félix’s move is seen as a strategic attempt to boost the team’s attacking options as they look to climb the league table and achieve success in domestic and European competitions. Chelsea fans will be hoping that Félix’s arrival can spark a turnaround in the team’s fortunes as they aim to strengthen their squad for the second half of the season.
As the transfer window opens, Félix’s loan move represents a huge opportunity for both the player and Chelsea to make an impact in the remaining fixtures of the campaign.