Chelsea fans might not have seen much of Joao Felix on the pitch, but that isn’t stopping the club from making a tidy profit.
After just 20 appearances in blue, the Portuguese forward looks set to be the latest star to join the Saudi football boom—bringing Chelsea a big financial boost in the process.
From Loan Flop to Big-Money Exit
Felix, 25, originally arrived at Stamford Bridge on loan in 2023.
His performances didn’t exactly wow anyone, but Chelsea went ahead and made the move permanent in 2024, paying around £42.7 million.
Fast-forward a year, and now he’s on the verge of leaving London altogether.
According to Sky Sports, he’s being lined up by Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr—Cristiano Ronaldo’s club—as they ramp up efforts to win the league title.
Ronaldo, Jorge Jesus, and the Saudi Ambition
Al-Nassr aren’t messing around. They’ve already extended Ronaldo’s contract and brought in experienced Portuguese manager Jorge Jesus to lead their charge for domestic dominance.
Now, they want Felix to add flair and depth to their frontline for the 2025-26 season.
It’s looking like Chelsea may recover the full fee they paid for him, and possibly even more, making this an ideal outcome for the London club.
Chelsea Eye Xavi Simons as Felix Nears Exit
That potential windfall could come in handy—especially with Chelsea setting their sights on a move for Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons.
The 22-year-old is expected to leave RB Leipzig after the club failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
The Blues have reportedly opened early talks with Simons’ camp, and if Felix’s deal goes through, they’ll have the financial room to make a serious offer.
Simons’ Rise Through Europe
Simons has already had a packed early career, bouncing between Europe’s top clubs.
After time in Barcelona’s academy, he moved to PSG, spent a successful year at PSV, and returned to RB Leipzig, initially on loan and later in a deal worth £43 million—with possible add-ons pushing it as high as £69 million.
Now, it looks like the Premier League could be his next destination, and he’s said to be open to a Chelsea switch.
Chelsea’s Attack in Flux
Chelsea have been busy in the transfer market this summer, particularly up front.
They’ve brought in Joao Pedro and Liam Delap for a combined £90 million, showing they’re serious about reshaping their attack.
But to bring in Simons, they’ll likely need to offload more players. One of those could be Christopher Nkunku, with manager Enzo Maresca recently admitting the Frenchman might move on—just two years after signing him for over £52 million.
More Departures on the Horizon
In fact, the club’s reshuffling has already begun.
Noni Madueke was sold to Arsenal earlier this week in a £52 million deal.
Chelsea clearly have a plan in place—and it seems to involve clearing out underperforming or surplus attacking talent to make room for new stars like Simons.
Chelsea fans might not have seen much of Joao Felix on the pitch, but that isn’t stopping the club from making a tidy profit.
After just 20 appearances in blue, the Portuguese forward looks set to be the latest star to join the Saudi football boom—bringing Chelsea a big financial boost in the process.
From Loan Flop to Big-Money Exit
Felix, 25, originally arrived at Stamford Bridge on loan in 2023.
His performances didn’t exactly wow anyone, but Chelsea went ahead and made the move permanent in 2024, paying around £42.7 million.
Fast-forward a year, and now he’s on the verge of leaving London altogether.
According to Sky Sports, he’s being lined up by Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr—Cristiano Ronaldo’s club—as they ramp up efforts to win the league title.
Ronaldo, Jorge Jesus, and the Saudi Ambition
Al-Nassr aren’t messing around. They’ve already extended Ronaldo’s contract and brought in experienced Portuguese manager Jorge Jesus to lead their charge for domestic dominance.
Now, they want Felix to add flair and depth to their frontline for the 2025-26 season.
It’s looking like Chelsea may recover the full fee they paid for him, and possibly even more, making this an ideal outcome for the London club.
Chelsea Eye Xavi Simons as Felix Nears Exit
That potential windfall could come in handy—especially with Chelsea setting their sights on a move for Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons.
The 22-year-old is expected to leave RB Leipzig after the club failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
The Blues have reportedly opened early talks with Simons’ camp, and if Felix’s deal goes through, they’ll have the financial room to make a serious offer.
Simons’ Rise Through Europe
Simons has already had a packed early career, bouncing between Europe’s top clubs.
After time in Barcelona’s academy, he moved to PSG, spent a successful year at PSV, and returned to RB Leipzig, initially on loan and later in a deal worth £43 million—with possible add-ons pushing it as high as £69 million.
Now, it looks like the Premier League could be his next destination, and he’s said to be open to a Chelsea switch.
Chelsea’s Attack in Flux
Chelsea have been busy in the transfer market this summer, particularly up front.
They’ve brought in Joao Pedro and Liam Delap for a combined £90 million, showing they’re serious about reshaping their attack.
But to bring in Simons, they’ll likely need to offload more players.
One of those could be Christopher Nkunku, with manager Enzo Maresca recently admitting the Frenchman might move on—just two years after signing him for over £52 million.
More Departures on the Horizon
In fact, the club’s reshuffling has already begun. Noni Madueke was sold to Arsenal earlier this week in a £52 million deal.
Chelsea clearly have a plan in place—and it seems to involve clearing out underperforming or surplus attacking talent to make room for new stars like Simons.