Chelsea has reached an agreement to sign Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid.
Chelsea has officially secured the signing of Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid, a move that brings the club’s total expenditure in the 2024 summer transfer window to over $250 million for 10 new players. This aggressive approach in the market underscores Chelsea’s ambition to rebuild and strengthen its squad under new manager Enzo Maresca.
According to reports from ESPN, the transfer fee for Felix is approximately $55 million, with additional performance-related bonuses. The Portuguese forward is scheduled to undergo a medical examination in London on August 20 before finalizing a contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2030, with an option for a 12-month extension.
Felix is no stranger to Chelsea fans, having played for the club during the latter half of the 2022-2023 season on loan, where he managed to score four goals in 20 appearances. In the following season, he was loaned to Barcelona, where he scored 10 goals in 44 matches, but the Catalan giants opted not to make the deal permanent. Now, Felix returns to Chelsea as the club’s 10th signing of the summer, joining a roster that has already been bolstered by the acquisitions of Pedro Neto from Wolves for $65 million, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester for $39 million, among others.
The signing of Felix has also had implications for other transfers, notably facilitating Conor Gallagher’s move to Atletico Madrid for $45 million. Gallagher had completed his medical in Spain and agreed to a five-year contract, but the transfer was delayed due to complications with another deal involving Samu Omorodion, which fell through at the last minute.
Chelsea’s extensive spending spree has left the club with a first-team squad of over 40 players, raising concerns about the club’s management and strategy. Former England defender Jamie Carragher has been vocal in his criticism, arguing that Chelsea’s use of long-term contracts for new signings is a strategy to circumvent Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. Carragher pointed out the challenges of managing such a large squad and questioned how the club plans to accommodate all these players in training and matches.
Additionally, Chelsea is actively looking to offload nine more players, including high-profile names like Romelu Lukaku, Trevoh Chalobah, and Kepa Arrizabalaga. The club aims to generate over $200 million from these sales, further indicating their intent to balance the books following a summer of heavy investment.
