Chelsea are nearing the completion of a deal to bring back former loanee Joao Felix.
The Portuguese forward has agreed to return to Stamford Bridge, with Atletico Madrid preparing to receive Conor Gallagher in exchange, according to David Ornstein. Felix, 24, had a brief loan spell with Chelsea during the second half of the 2022-23 season, scoring four goals in 20 appearances, though he did not make a significant impact in the Premier League.
Now poised for a return to London, Felix is set to sign a six-year contract, as reported by Florian Plettenberg, becoming Enzo Maresca’s 10th signing of the summer.
Despite the excitement surrounding his return, there are questions about where Felix will fit in, given Chelsea’s depth in attacking options. According to The Athletic, Chelsea view Felix as a ‘perfect fit’ for Maresca’s possession-based, positional play style. He is expected to play as an advanced left-sided number eight.
