Chelsea confirm end of Joao Felix career at Atletico Madrid after five seasons | OneFootball

Atletico Madrid’s record signing Joao Felix has left the club for a third and final time, joining Chelsea after successive loan spells at Stamford Bridge and then Barcelona. It brings to an end a turbulent five-year stint in Madrid.

Los Rojiblancos are reportedly set to make €50m plus €10m in variables from the deal, although some have put the figure as low as €40m. Felix has signed a seven-year deal with Chelsea, keeping him there until 2031, when he will be 31.

“It’s a chance for me to find a home,” Felix explained to Chelsea’s club media.

“After two loans, Chelsea and Barca, I needed to stay permanently in one place. There is no better place for me to be than Chelsea. I see a perfect place to shine.”

“It was a little bit of a lot of things that made me want to come back: the project, the club, the league, the fans, the time I spent here that I loved. I felt really good when I was here, despite the results we had. I’m really happy to be back.”

Felix arrived at Atletico for €127m five years ago, and has since signed two contract extensions in order to spread the cost of his fee. It seems they may well have written off the rest of their ammortisation due for Felix, but it will go down as a ruinous deal for Los Colchoneros.

The 24-year-old arrived as Atletico’s answer to Karim Benzema and Lionel Messi, and did contribute to their La Liga title win in 2021, even coming up with a crucial play in their final game of the season. Albeit he did come off the bench for much of the season. On and off the pitch defined his time not only at Atletico, but also at Barcelona and Chelsea two seasons ago.

The Metropolitano holds little affection for him after 131 appearances, 34 goals and 18 assists in his five years at the club. Relations had soured previously, but his performances and words around Barcelona’s clashes with Atletico last season seemed to mark a point of no return.