Felix leaves Chelsea to join Saudi's Al Nassr
London
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 £26 million ($34.8 million) transfer fee, although add-ons could see that rise as high as £43 million - 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.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
6 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Plans to retrieve Dahlmeier's body from Pakistan peak abandoned
dpa Islamabad Rescuers in Pakistan abandonedplans to retrieve the body of twice Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier of Germany to respect her last wish and avoid risking more lives, fellow climber Thomas Huber told DPA on Thursday. Dahlmeier, 31, was swept away in a rockfall close to the summit of the 6,069metres Laila Peak in the Karakoram mountain range on Monday, her management and local officials said. She was declared dead on Wednesday evening after air and ground operations to rescue her from the peak in the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region was not successful. Pakistani officials said on Wednesday that rescue teams led by international climbers and local high-altitude porters would launch a new operation to retrieve her body. 'When we saw Laura's body it was clear that she (had) left us. As experienced mountain climbers we decided to not go and retrieve her body,' Huber, who's in the GBregion, told dpa over the phone. 'The body was in a very difficult terrain which would have meant a great risk for the rescue team,' said Huber, also a German who was part of the team that went up to rescue Dahlmeier. 'We decided to respect Laura's last wish. She didn't want anyone to risk his or her life to retrieve her.' The regional government in the GB will also respect the decision taken by the rescuers and the climber's family, a spokesman told DPA. 'We will go with the same decision and make no effort to retrieve the body since it involves risk to human life,' spokesman Faizullah Faraq said. 'She will be considered buried on the mountain like many local and international climbers in the past,' he added. Dahlmeier's management said on Wednesday that it was her 'expressed and written wish that in a case like this, nobody should risk their life to rescue her. It was her wish to leave her body behind at the mountain in a case like this.' Her family was on the way to Pakistan and was expected to arrive in the country on Thursday or Friday, said Karrar Haidri of Al-pine Club of Pakistan, a body that regulates expeditions in the mountains. Dahlmeier's climbing partner Marina Eva was rescued and brought to the base camp by a group of climbers and local high-altitude porters on Tuesday, tour operator Mohamed Iqbal told DPA. Pakistan's northern region is home to several stunning peaks including some towering more than 8,000 metres high. The region attracts hundreds of mountaineers from all over the world including from Europe every year.
Qatar Tribune
6 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Isak training at former club Real Sociedad amid transfer rumour
PAMedia/dpa London Newcastle striker Alexander Isak is training individually at Real Sociedad, the Basque club have confirmed. The Sweden international, who is reported to have asked Newcastle executives to explore a move away from St James' Park, has been heavily linked with Liverpool. His former club Sociedad confirmed on Thursday he was 'working with his trainers' at the club's Zubieta facility. Newcastle have been approached for comment. The player did not travel with the rest of the Newcastle squad earlier this month for their pre-season tour of Asia amid speculation over his future, with the club saying at the time he was absent due to a minor thigh injury. The decision to train at his old club rather than his current one will heighten speculation that Isak sees his future away from Newcastle. No offer has been submitted by Liverpool as yet to Newcastle, who would almost certainly be looking for a British record transfer fee for the player. Should Newcastle price Isak out of a move or simply refuse to listen to offers, one option Isak and his representatives might consider would be to unilaterally terminate his contract with three years remaining. A European Court of Justice ruling in favour of former Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra last year means players can now terminate their deals 'without unnecessary fears', according to the lawyer who led Diarra's case. The ruling appears to have given players greater leeway to terminate a contract without just cause. The court found some of FIFA's transfer rules were contrary to European law because they restricted freedom of movement and were anti-competitive. Jean-Louis Dupont, who led Diarra's challenge and who was also at the centre of the landmark Bosman case which granted players free agency at the end of their contracts, believes last year's ruling lifts the threat of significant sanctions for players who choose to terminate their deals. Dupont, speaking in general rather than specifically about Isak's case, told the PA news agency: 'In its Diarra judgement, the court ruled that players have a right to termination without just cause and that it is for the ex-employer to establish the existence and the quantum of damages, knowing that losing the opportunity to transfer the player is NOT a damage.
Qatar Tribune
6 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Bayern ‘fit perfectly with my aims', says new signing Diaz
dpa Berlin New Bayern Munich signing Luis Diaz was officially presented on Thursday and said that the club fits 'perfectly with my aims.' 'I wanted to move to a big, ambitious team - this club has incredible history. We want to win everything. My aim is to help the club and have success as quickly as possible,' he said in a news conference. Bayern announced the singing on Wednesday after long negotiations with Diaz's former club Liverpool. The Premier League champions were initially not willing to sell Diaz, who came to Anfield and in 2022 and had 41 goals and 23 assists in 148 matches. The situation changed after Liverpool managed to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt. 'I'm just happy to be part of the Bayern family. I've always dreamed of playing for the biggest clubs. I'm fulfilling a dream with this. It's about getting used to the club as quickly as possible and helping the team,' Diaz said. Bayern reportedly paid ?75 million ($85.4 million) for the player. That would make Diaz the third most expensive signing in club history, after Bayern paid around ?100 million for Harry Kane and ?80 million for Lucas Hernandez. 'I can't say whether I'm worth the transfer fee, but I'm glad that it's been concluded this way. I like this club and want to settle in here as quickly as possible,' the newcomer said. Davies and Musiala injury update Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl also gave some updates on injured players Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala. 'Phonzy got his first taste of the grass again today, trained outside for the first time. Jamal still has crutches but things are moving positively with both. We hope to have both available again at the end of the year,' he said. Full back Davies has been sidelined since March, when he sustained a ruptured cruciate ligament while on international duty for Canada.
