Felix joins Chelsea on mortgage after signing new Atletico deal

Chelsea have accomplished the signing of ahead Joao Felix on mortgage from Atletico Madrid, the membership introduced on Wednesday.

Sources instructed ESPN the deal’s preliminary loan fee is in the region of £11 million. Arsenal and Manchester United had been each provided Felix however had been unwilling to fulfill Atletico’s monetary calls for.

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Felix instructed the club’s official website: “Chelsea is likely one of the nice groups on the planet and I hope to assist the staff attain their targets, so I’m very, very completely satisfied to be right here and really excited to play at Stamford Bridge.”

Atletico additionally confirmed that the ahead prolonged his contract with LaLiga for an additional season, till June 2027.

“From Atletico de Madrid we want Joao Felix each success on this new skilled stage,” Atletico stated in a statement.

Felix, 23, joins as Chelsea proceed to wrestle in entrance of aim, having scored the fewest targets within the Premier League prime half.

The ahead turns into the fourth signing at Stamford Bridge this month following the arrivals of Benoit Badiashile from AS Monaco, Andrey Santos from Vasco da Gama and David Datro Fofana from Molde.

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“He’s a high quality participant,” Chelsea supervisor Graham Potter stated at his Thursday information convention. “He could make a distinction within the remaining third of the pitch. Younger, however has clearly nonetheless had numerous actually good expertise so he’s only a high quality participant who offers all people a elevate.”

“We have been conscious of it for some time however these items do not occur shortly. Clearly the accidents have possibly sharpened the main target a little bit bit however nonetheless, it’s good to get him right here, get him coaching immediately. That is constructive for us after which we’ll see for the sport on Thursday. We’re nonetheless ready for the affirmation he can truly play however he was round immediately.

– January transfer window grades: Chelsea get a C for Felix loan

“It isn’t for me speculate on [why it didn’t work out for him at Atletico]. Typically these items occur in soccer however for us it’s about [him being] a very good age, a incredible participant and his qualities enjoying as a second striker in between the strains, making one thing occur within the remaining third. So we’re wanting ahead to working with him.”

Felix started his profession at Benfica, the place he shortly turned a phenom, making his senior debut in 2018.

In July 2019, Atletico signed Felix for a club-record €126m — Atletico chief govt Miguel Angel Gil Marin stated in December it was the “greatest guess” the membership has ever made — however the ahead struggled to make a big influence.

He has scored 34 occasions in 131 video games for Atletico — together with 5 targets in 20 video games in all competitions this season.

ESPN’s James Olley additionally contributed to this report.