It’s a move that would have been pretty stunning not long ago, but following just over a week of swirling rumours, Joao Felix is on his way to Chelsea.
David Ornstein was the first to get the news of a confirmed move, Tweeting just now that Chelsea “have reached an agreement” for the permanent transfer of the attacking midfielder.
It will be a 6 year deal, with the option of a further year.
https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1825561273674940815
Desperate to get in on the action after missing the big scoop, Fabrizio Romano has followed up by saying that the medical is being booked for the next 24 or 48 hours. Really covering your bases there, Fabrizio. Neither of them mentions a fee, but it’s expected to be in the region of the €40m that Atletico are paying Chelsea for Conor Gallagher in the other direction.
Felix will return to Stamford Bridge where he spent the latter half of the 2022/2023 season on loan, with middling results. It’s another floaty attacking midfielder slash winger to try to fit into this bloated squad.
https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1825572776595628140
A hard deal to wrap your head around
We’ve been over this deal so many times from so many angles, but it’s still hard to swallow. Atletico are getting Gallagher, one of Chelsea’s best performing players, for a bargain price. Not only that, but Chelsea are using that same money in order to buy Felix, a player the Spanish side are desperate to get rid of.
Somehow, we seem to be getting the short straw on both ends of the deal. As for where this puts our other attackers, we just don’t know. Raheem Sterling couldn’t get into the squad for yesterday’s game against Man City and was public with his unhappiness.
Imagine how he’s going to feel now that yet more competition has been added?
This is a great deal for Chelsea! Joao Felix is a player who cost Atleti around £110m. He maybe hasn’t lived up to that price tag but is still young, a huge talent and gave his all when on loan at Chelsea before during a very difficult period for us.
There is a lot of hysteria around Gallagher. He is a decent hard-working, honest player who loves the club but he is no world beater. Everyone who was quick to recognise this for England during the Euros now seems to be trying to make out he is Zidane reincarnate – he is not! If Chelsea are serious about moving to the next level, then with the best will in the world, Conor isn’t good enough (Lavia is a far better player for starters!) and it’s good money for an academy product with just 1 year left on his contract.
Time we Chelsea fans wished Conor well in Spain (I genuinely hope he does well), got shot of Sterling (5 good games a season just isn’t anywhere near enough!), gave Joao Felix a rapturous welcome back in his place and let’s all give this project a chance. Only time will tell if it’s genius or folly so let’s enjoy the ride and find out!
A great deal for Chelsea! Joao Felix is a player who cost Atleti around £110m. He maybe hasn’t lived up to that price tag but is still young, hugely talented and gave his all when on loan at Chelsea before during a very difficult period for us.
There is a lot of hysteria and hyperbole around Gallagher. He is a nice guy and a decent hard-working, honest player who loves Chelsea but he is no world beater. Everyone was quick to recognise this for England during the Euros but now seems to be trying to make out he is Zinedine Zidane reincarnate – needless to say, he is not! If Chelsea are serious about moving to the next level, then with the best will in the world, Conor isn’t good enough (Lavia is a far better player for starters!) and it’s good money for an academy product with just 1 year left on his contract.
Time we wished Conor well in Spain (I genuinely hope he does well), got shot of Sterling (5 good games a season isn’t anywhere near enough!), gave Joao Felix a rapturous welcome back in Sterling’s place and let’s all give this project a chance. Only time will tell if it’s genius or folly so let’s enjoy the ride and find out!