Every Possible Next Club for Joao Felix—Ranked From Least to Most Likely

João Félix's move to Saudi Arabia appeared, on the surface, to be a concession of failure.

The Portuguese attacking midfielder has long been considered an indulgence throughout his professional career. A record-shattering transfer to Atlético Madrid in 2019 came too early and to the wrong destination, as he found it impossible to gel with the all-powerful Diego Simeone.

Félix then began to wander. Enormous wage demands and a lack of consistent performances on the pitch meant interested clubs were restricted to loan deals, and he was shuttled through Catalonia, west London, and Milan without ever finding a home. Then came the Al Nassr transfer. The Saudi outfit shelled out $57.8 million for him in 2025 (a brilliant piece of business by Chelsea), giving Félix the freedom to flourish in the Middle East.

So perhaps it wasn't a concession of failure after all. The 26-year-old — not Cristiano Ronaldo — was crowned the Saudi Pro League's best player last season as Al Nassr claimed the championship, and the confidence placed in him by new national team boss Jorge Jesus, who helped spark his Saudi revival, suggests Félix is poised to reclaim his place in the European spotlight before long.

He revealed this week in a conversation with Spanish publication AS that he is eager to return to Europe soon, potentially as early as next summer, when his deal with Al Nassr comes to an end.

"I'm very happy in Saudi Arabia, enjoying my football," he said. "But it's true that I'm also thinking about returning [to Europe]. I don't know if it will be next year, in two, three, or four, but I'd like to return to European competitions."

So, which clubs might pursue Félix in 2027?

Here are five plausible destinations based on fit and probability.

5. Paris Saint-Germain

It's worth noting that Félix's impressive Saudi campaign doesn't necessarily mean the 26-year-old has lived up to the enormous expectations placed on him early in his career. The standard of competition, regardless of what those who've relocated to the Gulf claim, simply cannot be compared to Europe's top leagues, let alone the Champions League.

There's no certainty that this reinvigorated version of Félix will translate back on European soil, but those with an eye for flair could at least be intrigued by the idea of welcoming him back next year.

Paris Saint-Germain boast a heavily Portuguese-influenced squad but are unlikely to be serious contenders. Luis Enrique's team are currently Europe's dominant force, having won back-to-back Champions League titles.

They overhauled their attack over the summer, and Enrique's preference for the 4-3-3 leaves little obvious room for a player of Félix's profile in his system.

Enrique has no use for luxury players.

4. Chelsea

There are devoted Chelsea fans who barely remember Félix's time at Stamford Bridge.

The Portuguese star's 40 appearances in blue produced 11 goals and two assists, having joined permanently following an initial loan spell. As noted, Chelsea did exceptionally well to extract the fee they received from Al Nassr, and while BlueCo are aggressive in the transfer market, they're unlikely to revisit familiar territory with Félix next year.

The 26-year-old remarked in March that his time at the club was "lovely," but a third chapter in west London seems highly improbable.

Chelsea brought in fellow attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers for a club-record fee over the summer, and Xabi Alonso is already struggling to find minutes for teenage sensation Estêvão given the remarkable depth in his attacking options.

3. Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich may feel they have little need for a player like Félix, particularly with Jamal Musiala's strong start to the campaign and Lennart Karl's promising development.

Serge Gnabry has also made a successful transition into the No. 10 role, while summer arrival Ismael Saibari offers versatility across multiple attacking positions.

Some might consider Félix surplus to requirements, but there is prior history, and the German powerhouse are already reportedly targeting a move for Barcelona's Dani Olmo in January — they are clearly active in the market.

Bayern were linked with Félix back when he was considered one of the game's brightest prospects, and transfer speculation persisted throughout his uninspiring run of loan spells across Europe.

Don't rule out Die Roten being connected to the 26-year-old in transfer gossip next year if Barcelona hold onto Olmo.

2. Juventus

If Félix's Chelsea stint was forgettable, his time in Italy with AC Milan edged closer to irrelevance.

The Rossoneri took a gamble on the Portugal international in the second half of 2024–25, but Félix's loan spell yielded just four goal contributions across 21 appearances. Many Premier League names have thrived in the more measured tempo of calcio, yet a diminished Félix showed no signs of a career revival with the Milanese club.

That said, there remains a case for the playmaker to try his luck in Italy again and potentially find success elsewhere. Serie A doesn't carry the financial clout it once did during its golden era in the 1990s, but a free transfer next summer would be realistic. Wages, however, could present a greater obstacle.

Regardless, if Félix ends up anywhere in Italy next year, Juventus would be the ideal landing spot. Luciano Spalletti's Bianconeri produced some attractive football early in his reign, but there's only so much the Italian coach can achieve with the current squad at his disposal.

Juve are a once-great club in decline, lacking star quality and desperately in need of a refresh. Félix is the kind of gamble former director Fabio Paratici would have embraced, and it's time for the present leadership to give Kenan Yıldız a No. 10 partner who, if he can build on his Saudi momentum, could help the Old Lady reclaim the top of Serie A.

1. Barcelona

This destination appears most likely, largely due to Bayern's pursuit of Olmo.

It was reported last week that the Bundesliga champions are drawing up contingency plans should a key player depart, with Olmo identified as a top priority.

Olmo currently finds himself sharing the stage at Barcelona — overshadowed by the output of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha while playing second fiddle to Fermín López in the No. 10 role. A talent of Olmo's calibre deserves a regular starting berth, but Hansi Flick has been unable to guarantee that given Fermín's continued ascent.

Should the Spaniard depart, Flick would no doubt seek an in-house solution, as he has done at centre forward, but would the club's decision-makers be open to rekindling an old romance?

Xavi Hernández warmed to Félix during his loan spell in 2023–24, and while the club hoped to make the deal permanent, Atlético's asking price ultimately proved too steep.

It's unclear precisely what it would take to persuade Félix — who described wearing the Barcelona shirt as an "honor" — next year, but the 26-year-old is unlikely to think twice if the Blaugrana come knocking.

It's Flick who will need to be won over.