Joao Felix has arrived at Chelsea on loan for the rest of the season, the club have announced on their official website today.
The rumours had been percolating for some time, but the actual signing seems to have been done in just a couple of days. Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling picking up injuries made our need for short term solutions critical, and Felix was one of the few good players available on loan immediately.
They give no detail on the term of the loan, but we know from other sources we will pay all of his wages, plus €11m as a payment to take him until the summer. There is no purchase clause.
There are plenty of worries about where he will fit in – he’s not a number 9, and if anything he’s similar to Kai Havertz, who has struggled for years to find a place in our attack. But when your squad is as struck by injuries as ours is, just having warm bodies is as important as anything.
