What Happened to This 25-Year-Old Forward and Why Is He Set for a Saudi Arabia Move?
João Félix’s footballing journey has been anything but predictable. After bursting onto the scene at Benfica as a teenager during the 2018–19 season, his dazzling form earned him a massive transfer to Atlético Madrid for approximately $139 million, which made him one of the most expensive teenagers in football history. At the time, Félix was seen as the heir to the creative mantle in world football, but the fit at Atlético under Diego Simeone proved awkward. Injuries, inconsistent form, and a rigid tactical system stifled his natural creativity, and despite winning La Liga in 2021, Félix never truly became the star many expected him to be in Madrid.
By 2023, it was clear the relationship had run its course. Félix was loaned to Chelsea in January, and although he showed glimpses of talent, the club declined to sign him permanently that summer. A year later, Chelsea reversed course and bought him outright for around $55 million, hoping a new manager and system would unlock his potential. Yet, within months, Félix was loaned out again, first to Barcelona, where he scored seven goals, and then to AC Milan, where he found the net just three times in 19 appearances.
Chelsea faced financial pressure and was eager to offload Félix permanently by the summer of 2025. Benfica expressed interest in a return, but their offer, reportedly around $30 million for partial rights, fell short of Chelsea’s valuation. Then came Al Nassr. The Saudi Arabian club swooped in with an offer worth around $55 million, including add-ons, which Chelsea accepted. Félix is now set to earn close to $28 million per year in Saudi Arabia, becoming one of the highest-paid footballers in the world and reuniting with Cristiano Ronaldo.
João Félix’s career is a lesson in the gap between potential and performance, and in how environment, expectations, and timing can shape a footballer’s fate. Despite elite technical talent and flashes of brilliance, he struggled to find a consistent role in Europe’s top clubs. Now, at just 25, he begins a new chapter in a growing league far from the continent where he once captured global attention. Sometimes, a change of scenery can benefit a player. The talent never left, but perhaps the pressure and constant movement never gave it the space to grow.
