In a significant transfer move, Al Nassr, a prominent team in the Saudi Pro League, has secured the signing of forward Joao Felix from Chelsea under a permanent deal. This marks a major change for the 25-year-old, who will now join an illustrious roster that includes renowned players such as Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane. The decision to make this move highlights Al Nassr’s ambitions to strengthen their squad by acquiring top talent from Europe.
Joao Felix’s journey in the Premier League came to a swift conclusion after he made the move to Chelsea from Atletico Madrid. His time at Stamford Bridge was short-lived, spanning just half a season. Despite the potential Felix showcased, the results did not meet expectations, prompting a transfer to Al Nassr. During his stint at Chelsea, he participated in only 20 matches across all competitions, netting seven goals. This illustrates a troubling trend in his recent performances, suggesting that he struggled to adapt fully to the rigors of English football.
In January, Felix was loaned to AC Milan, where he made 21 appearances and scored three goals. However, this output proved insufficient for the Italian giant to consider a permanent arrangement for the young forward. The decision by Milan indicated that while Felix possessed talent, the consistency required to maintain a long-term position at the club was lacking.
Before his time in the Premier League, Felix garnered attention as a rising star in European football while playing for Benfica. At the tender age of 19, he scored an impressive 15 goals in just 26 matches during his inaugural season in the Primeira Liga. This remarkable performance led to significant interest from some of Europe’s elite clubs, culminating in a high-profile transfer to Atletico Madrid for a substantial fee reported to be £111 million, as noted by Transfermarkt.
During his tenure at Atletico, Felix showed flashes of brilliance, tallying 34 goals and providing 18 assists in 131 appearances. His efforts played a crucial role in helping the team clinch the La Liga title during the 2020-2021 season. However, after three and a half seasons, he found himself surplus to requirements under the new management, which ultimately led to his loan transfer to Chelsea.
Felix’s debut for Chelsea was marred by a red card, a setback that might have had a lingering impact on his confidence. Nevertheless, he managed to score four goals in 16 Premier League appearances, illustrating his potential despite the rocky start. His time in London was apparently sufficient to entice interest from Barcelona, where he subsequently went on loan and scored ten goals in 44 matches.
Chelsea eventually made a decision to permanently sign Felix, bringing him back into the fold where he managed to find the net during his return against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He scored from a pass provided by fellow Portugal international Pedro Neto, contributing to a significant 6-2 victory at Molineux. Unfortunately, that goal became the sole highlight of his second spell in the Premier League, although he marked his footprint with four goals in five appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League prior to the decision to move to Milan.
Throughout his international career, Felix has made an impact for the Portuguese national team as well, scoring nine goals in 45 appearances. Notably, he was part of the squad that triumphed in the UEFA Nations League during two separate seasons—2018-2019 and 2024-2025, showcasing his abilities on the biggest of stages.
His transfer to Al Nassr signifies not just a shift for Felix, but also highlights Chelsea’s ongoing reshuffle, as he becomes the eighth departure from Stamford Bridge this summer. This exodus from the London club includes players such as Noni Madueke, Djordje Petrovic, Mathias Amougou, Bashir Humphreys, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Marcus Bettinelli, and Lucas Bergstrom, indicating a new phase of rebuilding for the team as they adapt to the changing landscape of the Premier League.
Fans can keep up with Felix’s new chapter with Al Nassr as they follow multiple competitions including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and others through various sports networks such as TNT Sports and discovery+.
