Remember when Joao Félix burst onto the scene and was touted as the heir to Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal?
Fast forward to now, and at just 25, he has surprised fans by joining Al‑Nassr.
It’s the latest turn in a career that began with sky-high expectations and has seen a dramatic fall in market value.
The Benfica Prodigy Who Became Atletico’s Huge Bet
Félix rose through Benfica’s fabled academy and earned a jaw-dropping move to Atlético Madrid in 2019 for €127.2 million (£113 million), making headlines as one of the most expensive teenage transfers ever Wikipedia+15Wikipedia+15Tribuna.com+15.
It was a bold statement—he was meant to lead Portugal’s next chapter on the world stage.
Growing Pains: Chelsea, Barcelona and a Milan Detour
Sadly, the magic didn’t quite translate in Madrid.
After five challenging seasons, he moved to Chelsea for €52 million (or roughly £46.3 million) in 2024 Bet365 News+2Diario AS+2Football Transfers+2.
Struggling for form, Félix was loaned out to AC Milan, where he added a few goals to his tally before being sold again to Al‑Nassr for around £26.2 million upfront—and potentially rising to £43.7 million with add-ons The Scottish Sun+5Sky Sports+5We Ain’t Got No History+5.
Bagging Big Numbers: Where Félix Ranks All-Time
Despite inconsistencies on the pitch, Félix sits comfortably on the list of players with the fourth‑highest cumulative transfer fees.
Transfermarkt and others estimate his total career transfer value has reached around £195–£204 million Wikipedia+10Tribuna.com+10Bet365 News+10.
That puts him only behind Neymar (£345 m), Romelu Lukaku (£318 m), and Cristiano Ronaldo (£213 m) The Scottish SunOneFootball.
Other Big Movers in the Transfer Fee Hall of Fame
The rest of the top ten includes:
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Ousmane Dembélé: Approximately £190 m in fees from moves involving Barcelona and PSG
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Álvaro Morata: Around £180 m across eight moves between elite clubs
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Antoine Griezmann: Roughly £178 m in combined fees
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Matthijs de Ligt (Manchester United, Bayern & Juventus): Circa £170 m
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Matheus Cunha (from Sion to Man United via Leipzig, Hertha, Wolves): About £166 m
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Philippe Coutinho: Grand total near £156 m, just edging Mbappé off the list The Scottish SunThe Sun+2planetfootball.com+2The Scottish Sun+2Bet365 News+1The Sun+1.
A Sobering Turn for a Once Electric Talent
Félix was once compared to Ronaldo himself, and with moves like his record stretch, expectations were colossal.
But his slide—both in confidence and market value—may stand as a cautionary tale about the perils of teenager hype, enormous price tags, and unfinished development paths.
While he’s undoubtedly skilled, he hasn’t yet matched the hype, and recent history suggests he’s struggled to find a club where he truly keeps the faith Football TransfersWe Ain’t Got No History.
What’s Next for Félix in Saudi Arabia?
Now at Al‑Nassr, Félix heads to Saudi Arabia alongside Cristiano Ronaldo under coach Jorge Jesus.
It’s a fresh start, and for Chelsea it means recouping much of what they paid.
For Félix, it’s a chance to revive his career—perhaps away from Europe’s relentless spotlight—and reignite that early spark, even if the price tags keep following him around Diario AS+5We Ain’t Got No History+5Tribuna.com+5.