In a stunning late twist to the transfer saga, Portuguese forward João Félix is set to join Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr after a full agreement was reached with Chelsea. The deal is now confirmed with a “here we go.”
For weeks, all signs pointed to an emotional return to his boyhood club, Benfica. Félix himself had publicly pleaded for the move, and a deal for the Portuguese club to acquire a portion of his rights was thought to be imminent. However, in the final stages, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr moved decisively to hijack the transfer.
The deal is structured with an initial fee of €30 million, plus performance-related add-ons and a significant sell-on clause. This structure is designed to eventually meet Chelsea’s €50 million valuation of the player. Remarkably, this means Chelsea are somehow set to turn a profit on a player they signed permanently from Atlético Madrid for £45 million just 12 months ago.
Félix’s departure from Stamford Bridge was inevitable. He had made it clear he saw no future for himself at the club, a stance echoed by manager Enzo Maresca, who had already stripped him of his squad number.
Crucially, it is now reported that Félix’s exit will “accelerate” Chelsea’s pursuit of their top summer target, Xavi Simons. The funds and the space in the squad created by the forward’s departure are expected to be immediately reinvested into finalizing a deal for the RB Leipzig star.
Ultimately, this transfer appears to be a win for all parties. Félix secures a lucrative move to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr lands another major European star, and Chelsea pull off an astonishing piece of business that directly funds their next big signing.