Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr have agreed a deal worth up to £43.7 million for Chelsea forward Joao Felix, marking another high-profile addition to the league and reuniting the Portuguese international with compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo.
Felix, 25, has been granted permission to travel to Riyadh to undergo a medical ahead of completing the move. The deal signals the end of the forward’s brief spell with Chelsea, who paid Atletico Madrid £45 million to sign him permanently last summer following a previous loan spell.
Al-Nassr’s offer fended off strong competition from former club Benfica, who were keen to bring Felix back to Lisbon but ultimately failed to match the financial terms offered by the Saudi club. The move further strengthens Al-Nassr’s Portuguese connection, with the former Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo playing a key role in persuading Felix to make the switch.
The transfer represents a break-even point for Chelsea financially, having also loaned Felix to AC Milan in January for a £5 million fee. While his numbers at Stamford Bridge were modest—11 goals in 40 appearances—his technical ability and flair were evident in spells. Still, Chelsea have opted to move him on as they undergo a significant squad rebuild this summer.
The Blues, fresh off their Club World Cup triumph earlier this month, are under pressure to balance the books amid scrutiny from UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. The club was previously fined £27 million and has been warned to maintain a positive net transfer balance this window or risk limitations on registering new signings for the Champions League.
So far, Chelsea have raised close to £130 million in player sales. In addition to Felix, they have offloaded both goalkeepers Djordje Petrovic and Kepa Arrizabalaga, as well as winger Noni Madueke. More departures are expected, with players such as Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga, and Armando Broja reportedly on the market.
At the same time, Chelsea have been active in the market. The West London side have spent approximately £212 million this summer, bringing in striker Liam Delap, winger Jamie Gittens, and Brazilian forward Joao Pedro. They remain interested in signing midfielder Xavi Simons and highly-rated Dutch defender Jorrel Hato.
Felix’s exit is part of a broader restructuring under Chelsea’s current management, as the club looks to transition from a bloated and inconsistent squad to a more youthful and dynamic one. Despite his undoubted talent, Felix never fully settled into Chelsea’s system, with injuries and tactical shifts limiting his impact.
New chapter for Felix
The move to Saudi Arabia represents a new chapter for Felix, who burst onto the European scene as a teenager at Benfica and was once seen as one of the continent’s most promising attacking talents. His £113 million move to Atletico Madrid in 2019 was, at the time, one of the most expensive in football history, but his career has since stalled amid inconsistency and a lack of a defined role.
At Al-Nassr, Felix will join a growing roster of European stars who have opted for the Saudi Pro League, drawn by both financial incentives and the ambition of clubs in the region. The presence of Ronaldo, who continues to be a central figure at the club, is likely to aid his integration both on and off the pitch.
As Felix prepares to begin this new chapter, Chelsea will continue reshaping their squad under financial scrutiny, with the hope of building a team capable of challenging both domestically and in Europe—while staying within the bounds of UEFA’s financial regulations.