Chelsea sign Atletico forward Joao Felix on loan
23-year-old Portuguese football star Joao Felix joins English side Chelsea.
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Portuguese football player Joao Felix (Getty)
Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix has joined Chelsea on loan for the rest of the season, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.
Chelsea, currently the 10th in the Premier League table, tweeted "the artist has arrived," welcoming the Portugal international, who had also been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United.
In a club statement, Felix, 23, expressed that "Chelsea is one of the great teams in the world and I hope to help the team reach their objectives, so I am very, very happy to be here and very excited to play at Stamford Bridge."
The time is now! 👊
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 11, 2023
The Portuguese joined Atletico from Benfica in 2019 for 126 million euros ($135 million), making him one of the biggest transfers of all time, and has scored 34 goals in 131 appearances for the club.
He also featured in Portugal's run to the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar last month, scoring in the 3-2 victory against Ghana in the group stage.
Atletico confirmed on Wednesday that Felix had extended his contract with them for one more season, until June 2027.
"From Atletico Madrid we wish Joao Felix every success in this new professional stage," the Spanish club said in a statement.
Agreement with @ChelseaFC for the loan until the end of the season of João Félix, who extends his contract with our club for one year, until 2027.
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) January 11, 2023
ℹ️ https://t.co/92EGrvWPGz
Thank you João, we wish you the best of luck in this new professional challenge! pic.twitter.com/gIeaQj8mFE
