In a bid to create space for upcoming transfers, Softfootball has been able to gather that Chelsea are having talks with SL Benfica over the transfer of João Felix. The Portuguese was on loan at Milan during the second half of the 2024-2025 season, where he registered two goals in 15 appearances.
The Portuguese club, SL Benfica, has been advancing, having submitted their bid to bring João Félix back to the Estádio da Luz, with progress being made in negotiations for the 25-year-old forward.
Sky Sports reporter, Florian Plettenberg, posted on his X handle, about the ongoing transfer talks between both club sides.
He said:
“SL Benfica are still working on a deal for Joao #Felix. There is progress.
“25 y/o can leave Chelsea with a suitable offer. Contract until 2031.”
Félix, who spent last season on loan at Chelsea, is expected to leave Atlético Madrid this summer if a suitable offer arrives. While Chelsea opted against extending his stay at Stamford Bridge, interest in the Portuguese international remains strong, particularly from his boyhood club.
Benfica have been in discussions with Atletico over a potential deal and are now said to be making steady progress, although a final agreement has not yet been reached.
A permanent move would likely require the Portuguese side to find creative financial solutions, with Félix still under contract with Atletico until 2031 following the long-term extension he signed in January 2023.
Félix made 28 appearances for Chelsea last season, scoring six goals and showing flashes of his attacking quality in a side that struggled for rhythm. Despite his talent, a lack of consistency and positional uncertainty prevented him from becoming a key figure in the Premier League.
At Benfica, however, there is a belief that the club can unlock his full potential once again. Félix rose to prominence at the Lisbon outfit in 2018/19, scoring 20 goals in 43 games and earning a then-record €126 million move to Atletico.
Meanwhile, as captured by Softfootball earlier, Chelsea’s bid to get both Xavi Simons and Jorrel Hato still continues, as the duo of players respective clubs, RB Leipzig and Ajax, have confirmed to have received official notification from the current world champions.
Negotiations between Chelsea and Ajax are now underway, with insiders describing the relationship between the two clubs as “very good,” the same as Simon, who is seriously anticipating a move to Chelsea.
