Chelsea have reached an agreement in principle with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of forward Joao Felix. The exact fee for the 24-year-old Portugal international has not been disclosed, but the deal will see him return to Stamford Bridge on a six-year contract, with an option for an additional season.
Felix had previously spent the 2023 season on loan at Chelsea, where he scored four goals in 20 appearances. His move back to the London club is subject to a medical examination.
As part of the deal, Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher will be moving in the opposite direction and signing a five-year deal with Atletico Madrid. Gallagher had been training alone at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground after being left in a state of uncertainty for a week. The collapse of Chelsea’s negotiations to sign striker Samu Omorodion had delayed Gallagher’s £33 million move to Madrid.
Atletico Madrid needed to raise funds through a major first-team sale in order to complete the move. The transfer of Felix to Chelsea now opens the door for Gallagher to join Atletico at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. Gallagher had even been pictured at the stadium nine days ago in anticipation of the move, but a delay forced him to return to London last Tuesday.
While Chelsea focuses on player sales leading up to the transfer deadline on August 30th, they still have an interest in Napoli striker Victor Osimhen. Napoli is actively trying to sign Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku, who does not have a future in west London. Napoli has made a second offer to sign Lukaku on loan with a £25.5 million obligation to buy, but it is expected to be rejected as it falls short of Chelsea’s asking price of around £35 million.
The transfer of Joao Felix to Chelsea represents an exciting addition to their attacking options. Felix has shown his quality during his loan spell at the club and will be eager to make an impact upon his return. On the other hand, Conor Gallagher’s move to Atletico Madrid provides him with a fresh start and an opportunity to continue his development in a new environment.
For Chelsea, the focus now shifts to player sales as they look to trim their squad before the transfer window closes. The potential acquisition of Victor Osimhen would further bolster their attacking options, but it remains to be seen if Napoli can meet Chelsea’s valuation for Lukaku.
Overall, this transfer news demonstrates the intricate web of negotiations and player movements that take place during the transfer window. Clubs are constantly looking to strengthen their squads while balancing their financial constraints. It will be interesting to see how these deals unfold and how they impact the teams involved in the upcoming season.