Joao Felix Charts His Path Away from Chelsea with Bold Declaration

Among the most obvious transfer requests in football, João Félix made a particularly direct appeal, outlining exactly why Benfica should rescue him from his Chelsea situation this summer.

Just under twelve months prior, Félix had finalized a permanent transfer valued at approximately £45 million ($61.3 million) to rejoin Stamford Bridge. "I'm delighted to be back at Chelsea," he beamed following his goal on his second debut, "this truly feels like home to me."

The romance was short-lived as Félix found himself loaned out to AC Milan for the latter portion of the 2024–25 season within six months. Despite an encouraging beginning at San Siro, the Italian club chose not to make the Portuguese attacker's move permanent, leaving him to return to Chelsea where he was excluded from the Club World Cup roster and assigned no squad number.

When asked about his future plans, Félix was remarkably candid. "Benfica represents home for me," he revealed to CMTV. "Eventually I will go back. Whether that happens now or in several years remains uncertain. Should it be now, I would be delighted."

The Lisbon club is currently managed by Bruno Lage, the same coach who guided Félix's impressive breakthrough at Benfica in 2019, ultimately persuading Atlético Madrid to invest over €127 million (£109.8 million, $149.8 million) that summer.

"Having Bruno Lage as manager, someone I'm familiar with and who played a crucial role in my development, influences my thinking and I'm eager to return to Benfica," Félix added. "That's probably where my heart is pulling me. I believe I need to be home, which is why Benfica remains one of my primary considerations."

Nevertheless, Lage appeared less enthusiastic about the prospect. When speculation about Félix's potential return first emerged in June, the Benfica manager cautioned: "Two elements must align: the ambition and the economics.

"The ambition exists, and we think it's mutual. However, we must consider the financial reality: what kind of deal and investment we can make for João, while João must recognize that Benfica cannot match his current salary. This needs to be understood."

Félix reportedly receives approximately £65,000 ($89,000) per week at Chelsea. Although this represents one of the lower salaries at the London club, such compensation would potentially make him Benfica's second-highest earner.