Joao Felix linked with surprise Chelsea return

Felix spent six months at Chelsea on loan from Atletico Madrid, joining in January 2023. While his future seemed uncertain after that spell, recent reports suggest that he could return to the Blues following the collapse of their move for Atlético Madrid striker Samu Omorodion.

During his time in west London, Felix had a mixed experience under managers Graham Potter and Frank Lampard. Despite this, he spoke highly of his time at Chelsea, saying in May 2023, "I really like to be here." At the time, incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino decided against making Felix's deal permanent, but the player's fondness for the club remained clear.

Felix, who scored four goals in 20 appearances for Chelsea, further commented: "I don't know yet about my future, but these four or five months, I've loved it. It's a top club, everyone in the club is very good to me, my teammates are unbelievable, and I really like being here."

With the 34.5 million deal for Omorodion now seemingly off the table, Felix's return to Stamford Bridge is becoming a more realistic possibility. Both Chelsea and Atletico Madrid are reportedly still in negotiations, as they look to offload players to fund other transfers. This could pave the way for Felix to make a second appearance in a Chelsea shirt.

After his loan spell at Chelsea, Felix was loaned out to Barcelona in 2023. He enjoyed a successful stint with the Spanish giants, making 30 appearances and scoring in both matches against his parent club. His contributions helped Barcelona secure a second-place finish in La Liga.