In a stunning twist in the transfer market, João Félix, once hailed as Portugal’s brightest talent, is on the verge of leaving Chelsea for a return to his boyhood club, Benfica. According to Portuguese outlet Record, the Lisbon giants are nearing an agreement to secure 50% of Félix’s rights for a modest €25 million (£21.7 million, $29.3 million), a fraction of the price Chelsea paid just a year ago. The deal could be finalized before the week is out, marking a dramatic fall for a player once valued at over €100 million.
Félix’s departure from Stamford Bridge comes as no surprise to those following Chelsea’s squad dynamics. Under manager Enzo Maresca, the 25-year-old forward was deemed surplus to requirements for the 2025–26 season. A clear sign of his diminished status was young prospect Dario Essugo inheriting Félix’s shirt number for the Club World Cup, a tournament Chelsea opted to play without the Portuguese star, fresh off a loan stint at AC Milan.
Chelsea’s initial hopes of recouping €50 million (£43.5 million, $58.7 million) for Félix this summer were dashed as clubs balked at the steep asking price, per The Athletic. However, Félix’s desire to return to Benfica, where he first burst onto the scene in 2018–19, has paved the way for a cut-price deal. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano confirms that Las Águilas are working tirelessly to bring their former prodigy back home, offering Félix a chance to revive a career that has struggled to maintain its early promise.
The story of Félix’s meteoric rise and subsequent struggles is a cautionary tale. After winning the 2019 Golden Boy award and earning a €126 million (£113 million) move to Atlético Madrid, Félix was tipped for superstardom. Yet, consistent playing time has eluded him. Chelsea’s decision to sign him for £45 million ($61.3 million) last summer, locking him into a seven-year contract, now looks like a costly misstep. In the 2024–25 Premier League season, Félix started just three of his 12 appearances, scoring twice before being shipped out on loan to Serie A.
For Benfica, this transfer represents a golden opportunity to reclaim a homegrown talent at a bargain price. For Chelsea, it’s an admission of a failed gamble, offloading a player once seen as a cornerstone of their future for a fraction of his former value. As Félix prepares to return to the Estádio da Luz, the football world watches eagerly to see if he can rediscover the spark that once made him one of Europe’s most coveted talents.