CHELSEA have reached an agreement with Atletico Madrid for the permanent signing of forward Joao Felix.
The 24-year-old has agreed personal terms on a six-year contract with the option an additional 12 months.
Chelsea had been discussing a fee of £40m plus add-ons for the Portugal star.
The clubs have been in contact in recent weeks in a bid to conclude a deal for England international Conor Gallagher.
Gallagher was set to complete his move to Madrid, but that deal was halted when Chelsea’s attempts to sign Samu Omorodion from Atletico fell through.
Chelsea saw all three deals as entirely separate but Atletico took the opposite view and called the deals off.
But now Felix will join Enzo Marcseca’s 43-man roster after previously having spent the second half of the 2022/2023 season on loan at Stamford Bridge.
He scored four goals in 20 Premier League appearances.
The Portugal international then spent last term on loan at Barcelona, registering 10 goals and six assists in 44 games.
Felix has been named in Atletico’s squad for their LaLiga opener away to Villarreal on Monday night.
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But it is expected that he will depart before the closure of the transfer window.
He is set to become Chelsea’s ninth summer signing, following the arrivals of Tosin Adarabioyo, Omari Kellyman, Marc Guiu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Veiga, Caleb Wiley, Aaron Anselmino and Pedro Neto.
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