Chelsea on verge of selling unwanted star in shock £40m transfer deal to Saudi club Al Nassr who are offering huge wages
The Portuguese seemed to be on the verge of returning to his boyhood club
Benfica
before the
Advertisement
3
Joao Felix is nearing a Chelsea exit to end his nightmare spell in West London
Credit: Getty
3
Enzo Maresca left Felix out of his plans for the upcoming season
Credit: Getty
Transfer guru
Felix, 25, has already given his approval of the project and his personal terms.
Al Nassr's offer is reported to be a five-year contract with an annual salary of £22million, or £420,000 a week.
This salary, by comparison, would make him the second-highest earner in the Premier League behind Erling Haaland's £500,000 weekly wage.
Advertisement
READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
His wage would even equate to £20,000 per-week more than Mohamed Salah's new Liverpool contract.
Should the move go through, he would be reunited with his Portuguese national team colleague
Joao Felix was the subject of the fourth most expensive transfer ever when he made the move from
After a falling out with the management in
Madrid
, Felix had loan spells with
summer
.
Advertisement
Most read in Football
SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN
3
Between his two stints at the club, Felix has made 40 total appearances for the Blues, scoring 11 goals.
Chelsea
were at a loss with Joao Felix this window after a
Advertisement
Chelsea launch bid for £52m Ajax teen sensation Jorrel Hato | Transfers Exposed
The club were set to take a huge loss on his return to Benfica, who were reportedly looking to pay half the fee that Chelsea paid for the forward at around £22million.
Al Nassr's improved offer puts them in good stead to steal the star from under the Portuguese giant's nose, as Chelsea look to recoup almost the full fee they paid for him a year ago.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Joao Felix leaves Chelsea to join Al-Nassr
Joao Felix has left Chelsea to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr on a permanent deal. The 25-year-old Portugal international moved to Stamford Bridge from Atletico Madrid last summer, having had an earlier spell with the Blues on loan in 2023. He made 20 appearances for Enzo Maresca's side in the first half of the season – but started only three Premier League games – before leaving for AC Milan on loan in January. 'We thank Joao for his efforts across his two spells at the club and wish him well for the future,' Chelsea said in the statement. Felix has signed a two-year contract with his new club. Al-Nassr have reportedly paid an initial £26m (€30m) transfer fee, although add-ons could see that rise as high as £43m (€49.6m) – close to the sum Chelsea paid Atletico for his services last summer. He joins his Portugal team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, who announced his arrival with a short video on social media in which Felix said: 'I am here to spread joy. Let's win together.'
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Chelsea close to €40m deal for Ajax's Jorrel Hato as Nottingham Forest keen on Adama Traoré
Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Jorrel Hato from Ajax and have opened talks with RB Leipzig over a move for his Netherlands teammate, Xavi Simons. It is understood that personal terms have been agreed with Hato, a defender who has made more than 100 appearances for Ajax's first team despite only turning 19 in March. Negotiations with the Dutch side over a fee of around €40m (£35m) are believed to be in the final stages, with Enzo Maresca hoping to add to his options at left-back and in central defence. Hato, who in 2023 became the youngest player to captain Ajax aged 17 and made his senior international debut a few weeks later, is capable of filling both roles and is regarded as one of Europe's brightest prospects. He was part of the Netherlands Under-21 side that were defeated in the semi-finals of the European Championship in Slovakia last month and has won six senior caps. Chelsea, who have already signed Liam Delap, João Pedro and Jamie Gittens this summer, are also understood to be confident of agreeing a deal for Simons. The 22-year-old forward, who is capable of playing in several attacking roles, joined Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain in January for €50m after two successful loan spells and it is expected that he could cost up to €70m. Simons has also attracted interest from Bayern Munich but is thought to prefer a move to the Premier League. Chelsea have already sanctioned the departures of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Noni Madueke and Djordje Petrovic and have agreed a £44m deal with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr for João Felix. Elsewhere Nottingham Forest are interested in signing the Fulham winger Adama Traoré. If a deal can be done for the 29-year-old it would see him reunite with Nuno Espírito Santo, who he worked under at Wolves. After selling Anthony Elanga and Ramón Sosa, Forest have been eager to recruit new wingers. A club-record deal was agreed for Bologna's Dan Ndoye on Monday, with the Switzerland international set to join this week after a medical is completed. Personal terms are not thought to be an issue for Ndoye, who turned down the chance of moving to Serie A champions Napoli in favour of the Premier League. Traoré has spent the past two seasons at Craven Cottage after joining on a free transfer from Wolves, where he worked under Nuno for three years, helping them finish seventh twice. The Portuguese is a huge admirer of Traoré and is pushing for a deal to be completed. Traoré played 36 times for Fulham last season, scoring twice and creating a further seven goals to help Marco Silva's men finish 11th The potential arrival of Traoréconsidered one of the quickest players in the Premier League, would help negate the loss of Elanga, who joined Newcastle for £55m earlier in the window. Going into their first European campaign in 30 years, Forest are also considering increasing their bid for James McAtee after seeing an opening offer of £20m plus £5m in add-ons rejected by Manchester City for the England Under-21 midfielder. Leicester City, meanwhile, have signed the goalkeeper Asmir Begovic on a one-year contract. The 38-year-old was a free agent after leaving Everton at the end of last season and last played in the Championship for Queens Park Rangers in 2023-24. Begovic, who played for Bournemouth, Chelsea and Stoke in the Premier League, reunites with head coach Marti Cifuentes, who worked with him at QPR. Begovic is Leicester's first summer signing with the club hamstrung by financial parameters. Their No 1 goalkeeper, Mads Hermansen, has top-flight interest. Guardian
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
The stunning £330million transfer merry-go-round that will kick-off when Luis Diaz leaves Liverpool
LUIS DIAZ'S impending move to Bayern Munich is set to spark an incredible transfer merry-go-round with implications for several Premier League clubs. The Colombian star, 28, is Advertisement 9 Luis Diaz is set to quit Liverpool for Bayern Munich Credit: PA With The Swede, 25, last week informed the Toon that he Isak has not gone on his club's pre-season Asia tour amid intense transfer speculation. Reports suggest that the prolific striker has Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL But the Reds will have to cough up a huge fee for the deal to happen. With three years remaining on Isak's contract, Newcastle are demanding £150m for their star man. The two clubs are set to meet in the coming days, with Liverpool reportedly believing that they can whittle the Toon's asking price down to £120m. Should Liverpool land their man, Newcastle's desperate striker search will intensify further. Advertisement Most read in Football Latest BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 9 Alexander Isak wants Credit: Getty Newcastle are now targeting Advertisement Newcastle manager Eddie Howe gives update on Alexander Isak's Liverpool transfer Having also let Isak's deputy While fellow Premier League stars Newcastle's swoops could be scuppered by Advertisement 9 9 9 9 Advertisement The Red Devils have already splurged around £130m on But despite this expensive outlay, SunSport understands that Sesko and Watkins are Advertisement Aston Villa have so far resisted enquiries for Watkins this summer. Should their stance change, SunSport 9 Advertisement 9 9
