With no purchase option in place, Atletico Madrid has loaned Joao Felix to Chelsea for the remainder of the 2022–23 season
To officially announce the signing of Joao Felix, Chelsea released a statement. The Portuguese international will finish the 2022–23 season with the west London club on loan. Not only can Chelsea not make the Atletico Madrid forward a permanent addition to the squad, but they also cannot negotiate a buyout.
Even back when he was playing for Benfica, Joao Felix was widely regarded as one of the world’s top young strikers. The 23-year-old is a former Portuguese club prodigy who earned the club’s prestigious Golden Boy award when he was only a teenager. It came as no surprise, therefore, when many European heavyweights went after his signing in July 2019 before a club-record transaction was finalized by Atletico Madrid.
The Portuguese international’s play with Atletico Madrid has been inconsistent. As a result, Diego Simeone’s practical approach has consistently been ineffective in eliciting the finest performance from the child. Even poorer than last season, Felix played in just 11 games in the first half of 2022/23. Even before Chelsea started knocking, the midfielder was eager to leave Atletico Madrid this month.
The Portuguese international attracted the attention from many Premier League teams. Negotiations to bring him aboard were also undertaken by Arsenal and Manchester United in addition to Chelsea. However, in recent days, the two heavy hitters have cooled their interest in the youthful attacker, allowing Chelsea to swoop in and sign him.
The 23-year-old’s signing with Chelsea was quickly confirmed verbally. The west London club has issued an official statement confirming the loan agreement for Felix. He is committed to the Premier League powerhouses until the 2022–23 season.
Felix reportedly stayed at Atletico Madrid for an extra year before joining Chelsea, as reported by Fabrizio Romano. As of right now, the Blues do not have the option to make the Portuguese international a permanent member of the squad this coming summer. It remains to be seen whether the teenager can inspire a stagnant Chelsea squad in the coming months.
