João Félix has officially left Chelsea for good, with Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr completing a €30 million transfer for the Portuguese forward. He now joins forces with his superstar compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo in Riyadh.

Portugal's João Félix Joins Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr on $35 Million Deal | FOX Sports

Félix’s first stint at Chelsea came in 2023, but things never truly clicked. He returned to Stamford Bridge for a second attempt a year later, only to be loaned out to AC Milan in January. By the summer, it was clear Chelsea were looking to offload him permanently — his exclusion from the squad list for the Club World Cup made that intention obvious.

Benfica Return Falls Through

Throughout the summer, Félix’s boyhood club Benfica were heavily linked with a reunion. The player himself made no secret of his desire to return:

“I want to go home. My home is Benfica. I need to return to my
favorite club. Bruno Lage was an important coach in my career, and I
would be happy to work with him again. This is the option I prefer
most,” Félix told reporters in early July.

Negotiations dragged on for weeks, but finances proved an insurmountable obstacle. Chelsea were holding out for around €50 million, while Benfica could only stretch to €30 million and had no realistic way of covering the gap through bonuses.

Ronaldo’s Influence Helps Al Nassr Land Félix

The Al Nassr option came out of nowhere. Last weekend, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano reported that Chelsea had reached an agreement with the Saudi club. According to reports, Cristiano Ronaldo played a pivotal role, personally calling Félix to convince him to make the move to the Middle East.

Al Nassr ultimately offered Chelsea what Benfica couldn’t: €30 million up front plus another €20 million in potential bonuses. The Blues also inserted a sell-on clause in the deal. Félix has signed a two-year contract with the Saudi side.

A Career of Highs and Frustrations

According to Transfermarkt, Félix remains the fifth-most expensive transfer in football history and Atlético Madrid’s all-time record signing. The Spanish club paid €127.2 million to sign him from Benfica back in 2019 when he was just 19 years old.

Since then, the forward has played for a host of European giants, including Barcelona, Milan, and Chelsea. However, he hasn’t managed to score more than 10 goals in a single season since leaving Lisbon.

On the international stage, Félix has made 45 appearances and scored nine goals for Portugal. He has lifted the UEFA Nations League trophy twice with the national team — in 2019 and 2025.