By Jennifer Amarachi
Joao Felix is ready to return to Stamford Bridge after Chelsea completed a £46.3 million deal with Atletico Madrid to recruit the Portugal international on a permanent basis.
Felix spent six months on loan at Chelsea during the 2022/23 season, and Conor Gallagher’s move to Atletico is now back on.
Felix is believed to be joining Chelsea for a £42 million fixed price plus £4.3 million in add-ons, with the trade potentially worth more than £46 million.
The 24-year-old forward is anticipated to sign a six-year contract with an option for an additional year.
The Portugal international was not picked in the starting XI or on the bench for Atletico Madrid’s LaLiga away game against Villarreal on Monday night, despite being included in the travelling squad.
The funds Atletico receive for Felix from the Blues will allow them to complete a deal for Gallagher.
Gallagher’s £36m move to Atletico looked to have fallen through following the collapse of Chelsea’s move for Atletico striker Samu Omorodion.
However, the Spanish club remained determined to sign the 24-year-old England midfielder, having been impressed by him during his recent five-day stay in Madrid and how he handled the situation, which only reinforced their desire to have him in their squad.
Gallagher is now in discussions over travel plans to Madrid, but there is no rush considering what happened last time.
While in Madrid, he passed a medical and signed a five-year contract with Atletico, and the club photographed him at the Wanda Metropolitano before forcing him to return. Felix spent last season on loan at Atleti’s La Liga rivals Barcelona, where he scored 10 goals in 44 games.
He also spent six months on loan at Chelsea in the second half of the 2022/23 season, netting four goals in 16 Premier League games. Felix became the fifth most expensive footballer in history when Atletico Madrid paid Benfica £113 million for his services in 2019.
