Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. (Action Images)
After a solid 2024/25 campaign that saw Chelsea lift both the UEFA Europa Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup, the focus at Stamford Bridge has quickly shifted to a dramatic summer rebuild.
While silverware under Enzo Maresca brought a sense of optimism back to West London, the club’s recruitment drive shows no signs of slowing down.
Chelsea have already secured the signings of several exciting young talents, including João Pedro, Dário Essugo, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, and the highly rated Estevão.
This flurry of arrivals has naturally opened the door to a wave of departures — particularly in forward areas, where the Blues are heavily stocked.
Noni Madueke is reportedly close to joining Arsenal, Christopher Nkunku is expected to leave too, and even Nicolas Jackson’s future remains uncertain. Another name firmly in the departure lounge is João Félix, who, despite a promising start, looks set to move on once again.
João Félix Nearing Benfica Return
According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, João Félix is now edging closer to a return to his boyhood club, Benfica.
The Portuguese forward left Benfica in 2019 to join Atlético Madrid in a blockbuster £109 million deal, but he never fully found his feet in Spain. Subsequent loan spells at Barcelona and Chelsea followed before the Blues made the move permanent in 2024 for a fee of around £42 million.
Just six months later, however, Félix was shipped out again — this time to AC Milan — where he again failed to impress. With no place for him in Enzo Maresca’s plans at Chelsea, talks are already underway over a permanent exit.
A Bola reports that super-agent Jorge Mendes is leading negotiations between Chelsea and Benfica. The West London club is eager to move Félix on, hoping to recover at least part of their investment. Chelsea value the 25-year-old at €40 million, but Benfica are aiming to secure 50% of his rights for closer to €20 million — a gap that still needs bridging.
While Benfica may be willing to stretch their offer slightly, they’re unlikely to meet Chelsea’s full asking price.
Given Félix’s inconsistent form and previous criticism over his “horrendous” attitude, a swift resolution would benefit all parties. For Chelsea, the sooner they draw a line under the Félix saga, the better.
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