Joao Felix could be making a sensational return to Chelsea this summer after he openly expressed his fondness for the club during his initial stint with the Blues.
Felix had a six-month loan spell at Chelsea in January 2023, however, rumours are now swirling that he might be heading back after the Blues' attempts to sign Atletico Madrid striker Samu Omorodion appear to have fallen through. The Portuguese international had a varied experience in west London following a successful time at Atletico.
Felix played under the management of Graham Potter and Frank Lampard at Chelsea before incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino decided not to make his deal permanent. Yet, in May 2023, Felix was seen singing praises about his time with Chelsea, stating: "I really like to be here".
Felix, who netted four goals in 20 appearances for the Blues, said: "I don't know yet 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 to be here."
The attacking midfielder's unexpected return to Chelsea could now be a possibility after a proposed £34.5million deal with the La Liga side to bring Omorodion to Stamford Bridge looks to be dead in the water. However, as both clubs need to offload players to finance other deals, they have continued negotiations and reports now suggest that Felix could indeed be heading back to Chelsea for a second stint.
After his brief spell at Stamford Bridge, Felix was loaned out to Barcelona in the summer of 2023. The former Benfica star had a successful run with the Spanish giants, making 30 appearances and even scoring against his parent club, helping Barca secure second place in La Liga.
The forward, who has also been linked with a move to Aston Villa this summer, remains the fourth most expensive player in history after his £113million transfer from Benfica to Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2019.
His Spanish journey started well, earning him several accolades including Atletico's Player of the Season in 2022. However, following a fallout with manager Diego Simeone, Felix found his opportunities at the Metropolitano limited.
Spanish publication El Mundo Deportivo reported that any chance of the forward playing under Simeone again is now 'not negotiable'. Should Felix return to Chelsea this summer, he would be another addition to the Blues' impressive list of signings.
Under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea have made significant moves in the market, securing talents such as Omari Kellyman, Aaron Anselmino, Renato Veiga, Caleb Wiley, Marc Guiu, Estevao Willian, Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Filip Jorgensen and Pedro Neto.
