RIYADH — Al Nassr have completed the signing of Portuguese forward João Félix from Chelsea in a deal worth up to €50 million, ending a nearly finalized move that would have seen the 25-year-old return to his former club, Benfica. The Saudi Pro League side agreed to pay €30 million upfront with an additional €20 million in performance-based add-ons, according to Sky Sports. Félix is expected to undergo a medical in Riyadh on Sunday evening, with personal terms already agreed. Sources close to the negotiations confirmed that Al Nassr's Portuguese contingent — head coach Jorge Jesus and team captain Cristiano Ronaldo — played a decisive role in convincing Félix to choose Saudi Arabia over Lisbon. Portuguese newspaper O Jogo called their intervention "crucial," while transfer insider Fabrizio Romano reported the player is "excited" to play alongside Ronaldo and reunite with Jesus. Félix spent the latter half of last season on loan at AC Milan, making 21 appearances and registering three goals and one assist. Though Milan paid €5.5 million for the loan, they opted against a permanent transfer. Chelsea signed Félix on a permanent basis from Atlético Madrid in August 2024 for £44.5 million ($58 million) following a six-month loan spell the previous year. Despite flashes of quality, he failed to secure a regular starting role at Stamford Bridge, featuring in just three Premier League starts last season. His contract with Chelsea had been due to run until 2030, with an option for an additional year. The Portuguese international was initially expected to be part of Chelsea's squad for the FIFA Club World Cup this summer but was omitted from the final 28-man list, signaling his imminent departure. A crowded attacking unit at Chelsea — featuring summer signings Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, João Pedro, Liam Delap, and Estevão — further limited Félix's role in the squad. Al Nassr's move underscores their ambitions ahead of the new season, with the club continuing to build around Ronaldo, who joined in late 2022. Félix's arrival is seen as part of a broader strategy to assemble a competitive team capable of challenging for domestic and continental honors. He is expected to earn an annual salary of €6 million in Riyadh.
