July 29, (THEWILL) — Al Nassr have announced the permanent signing of João Félix from Chelsea for an initial €30 million, with potential add-ons raising the total fee to €50 million.
The 25-year-old Portuguese forward, who attracted interest from clubs in Portugal and Saudi Arabia, joins the Saudi Pro League side on a long-term deal. Félix had been on loan at AC Milan since January 2025 but will now link up with Cristiano Ronaldo and Otávio at Al Nassr.
Félix rose to prominence at Benfica before his €126 million move to Atlético Madrid in 2019, making him one of the most expensive players in history.
After a mixed spell in Spain, he joined Chelsea on loan in 2023 before making the switch permanent last summer. Despite scoring seven goals in 20 appearances for the English Premier League club, he was loaned to Milan in January, where he expressed a desire to stay before Al Nassr’s intervention.
The transfer is another high-profile acquisition for the Saudi Pro League, which continues to attract elite talent.
Félix’s arrival at Al Nassr strengthens an attack already featuring Ronaldo, who has been instrumental since joining in 2023.
The club, currently competing for domestic and continental honours, will hope Félix’s creativity and versatility bolster their ambitions.
Félix’s career has been defined by flashes of brilliance but also inconsistency, with loan spells at Chelsea and Milan failing to yield a long-term home.
This move to Saudi Arabia offers him a fresh start in a league increasingly seen as a viable destination for top-tier players.
Al Nassr’s investment shows their determination to build a squad capable of dominating both domestically and in Asian competitions.
The deal was finalised after negotiations between Chelsea and Al Nassr, with the player agreeing to personal terms earlier this week.
Félix is expected to join his new team for pre-season preparations ahead of the 2025/2026 campaign.
His partnership with Ronaldo will be closely watched, as Al Nassr aim to close the gap on league rivals Al Hilal.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
